Martha Marcy May Marlene

Bottom Line: Well-acted and creepy, but slow, this film will convince you never to join a cult. If you need convincing.

The Gist: Martha of many names (Elizabeth Olsen) escapes the trippy cult into which she had fallen. She comes home to her sister and brother-in-law who gladly take her in. Her strange behavior, however, wears on them. The cult has rewired her mind. Not only that, they come looking for their missing sister. The fantastic John Hawkes plays the cult leader.

The Verdict: If you like psychological artsy movies, this one is well done. Hawkes, as always, is fantastic. The pace feels slow and the ending, well, artsy. If you’ve ever wondered what draws people to cults, and sometimes evil acts in them, this explores that.

Be Aware: The cult has sexual elements to it, so there are quite a few scenes of sexuality (usually pretty creepy) and nudity. Rated R for sexuality, nudity, language, and violence.