Aaron Murray’s review published on Letterboxd:
Trauma once it has its claws in you is a beast that never goes away. Sometimes it goes away but it's always deep inside us waiting to hit us again.
In Martha Marcy May Marlene, a woman escapes a cult that has tormented her for years. Through flashbacks, we see how Martha got to where she is today as she's reunited with her sister and her husband. Throughout the film, Martha is cold. At times she's even cruel but while we know where she came from to become the way she did, no one else around her does. She locks herself up and allows nobody in even when her cracks begin to show.
Elizabeth Olsen is seriously incredible here. As one of her first roles, she no doubt made an impression and while it's great to see her shine over in the MCU, I hope we get more of this from her soon. Her performance here is heartbreaking but incredibly human. It's exactly why Martha Marcy May Marlene works so well.
This is a film that explores trauma so perfectly. It never goes away and even when we think it does, it's always lingering close by. The ending while some believe it's unsatisfying, I think it's a perfect close to the film. It's anticlimactic but it's also the only way a film like this can truly go while keeping things in control. It's emotional and striking in all the right ways and I'm really glad I caught this film now as it's something really special.