The 2011 psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene, which marked the feature film debut of Elizabeth Olsen, is now available for streaming on HBO Max. Widely considered one of the most underrated films of the 2010s, it joins the platform’s August library update.
Written and directed by Sean Durkin in his own feature debut, the film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, where it garnered significant attention and earned Durkin the Directing Award. Olsen’s harrowing lead performance received widespread critical acclaim and numerous award nominations. Despite a limited theatrical release, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $5 million on a modest $600,000 budget.
The film follows Martha (Olsen), a young woman who escapes an abusive cult in the Catskill Mountains and seeks refuge with her estranged sister, Lucy (Sarah Paulson), and her husband, Ted (Hugh Dancy). As she tries to reacclimate to a normal life, Martha is plagued by increasing paranoia and disturbing flashbacks of her time in the cult, particularly her relationship with its charismatic and manipulative leader, Patrick (John Hawkes).
More than a decade after its release, Martha Marcy May Marlene remains a powerful and unsettling examination of trauma and manipulation, holding a Certified Fresh 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is praised for its subtle and unnerving depiction of the psychological aftermath of cult life. Rather than focusing on explicit horrors, Durkin’s script builds suspense through Martha’s fractured perspective, keeping Patrick’s character enigmatic and heightening the story’s frightening authenticity. The narrative deftly explores the lingering spiritual and psychological bonds that tie victims to their abusers, making for a compelling and haunting viewing experience. The film also features a strong supporting cast that includes Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet, and Julia Garner.
