Martha Marcy May Marlene

Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: October 21, 2011

7.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 137 Ratings

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CitizenCharlieNov 3, 2011

Martha Marcy May Marlene continuously cuts back and forth between past and present. However, the audience could have used a lot more past and a bit more present to help understand more about Martha (Elizabeth Olsen). The past shows Marthaâ

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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lancekozMar 25, 2013

I'm late in viewing this film and then seeing these reviews... I'm astounded by the number of people who found this really spoke to them. It's not a terrible movie.... just hollow at the core. It uses minimalism for a subject that deserves aI'm late in viewing this film and then seeing these reviews... I'm astounded by the number of people who found this really spoke to them. It's not a terrible movie.... just hollow at the core. It uses minimalism for a subject that deserves a lot more story and script to describe what is going on psychologically. This attempt is not ambitious enough to go there. Instead, it is just kind of prurient and blanky dismal.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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RobinsNestMar 26, 2012

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Where was Marlene? After @20 minutes I began fast forwarding to see if anything actually "happens". It finally does, someone gets killed for no reason. Uninteresting story and people. Why is the heroine the way she is? Why was she so lost? Is she strong ? I guess so because she runs away; but why? She must be weak because she believed that rape and abuse are normal. Why was this movie made? What's the point? A film must reach me on at least one emotion. Nothing, hence the grade, reached me. Every generation has it's group that does something different; pushes the envelope; creates an opposite. Sometimes those with too much time on their hands, grab on and tell us to "Look at the emperor's beautiful clothes" because there is very little going on. They try to convince us the clothes are beautiful when in fact this emperor is not wearing anything; like the heroine.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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dougreesOct 28, 2011

So what if it's turgid, banal, and entirely in love with itself? At least it's slow. What a turkey. And can you imagine the suits panicking over the title? "Do we HAVE to call it 'Marth... Mary... no, Merle'... oh what the CHRIST is theSo what if it's turgid, banal, and entirely in love with itself? At least it's slow. What a turkey. And can you imagine the suits panicking over the title? "Do we HAVE to call it 'Marth... Mary... no, Merle'... oh what the CHRIST is the name of this thing again?? Can't we just call it 'Lots of Young Naked People Swimming'?"… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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dotfailApr 14, 2012

You really won't care about Martha, her sister, her sister's husband, the cult leader, the cult members or anyone else. You'll just be bored and annoyed by the glacial pacing, the inane camera pans, the silly time jumps and the general lackYou really won't care about Martha, her sister, her sister's husband, the cult leader, the cult members or anyone else. You'll just be bored and annoyed by the glacial pacing, the inane camera pans, the silly time jumps and the general lack of storytelling. I gave it a one instead of a zero because Sarah Paulson and John Hawkes are good actors who attempt to do something with this awful material. Elizabeth Olson, however, doesn't do much more than stare blankly in scene after boring scene.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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DebbieOct 29, 2011

Who knew it was so easy to start a cult? I found the script lacking in depth and imagination. I just didn't buy it. If it was Kool-Aid, I would have spit it out.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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