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"MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE"
(2011) (Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson) (R)


Alcohol/Drugs Heavy
Blood/Gross Stuff Minor
Disrespectful/Bad Attitude Extreme
Frightening/Tense Scenes Heavy
Gun/Weapons Heavy
Imitative Behavior Extreme
Jump Scenes None
Music (Scary/Tense) Heavy
Music (Inappropriate) None
Profanity Extreme
Sex/Nudity Extreme
Smoking Minor
Tense Family Scenes Heavy
Topics to Talk About Extreme
Violence Heavy


QUICK TAKE:
Drama: A young woman begins to lose touch with reality after fleeing a cult and going to live with her sister and new brother-in-law at their lakeside home.
PLOT:
It's been two years since a young woman, Martha (ELIZABETH OLSEN), was drawn into a cult located on a farm in the Catskills and led by the charismatic and much older Patrick (JOHN HAWKES). Shown the ropes by the likes of other members such as Katie (MARIA DIZZIA) and Zoe (LOUISA KRAUSE) -- and then later doing the same herself for newbie Sarah (JULIA GARNER) -- Martha eventually fit in, including being one of Patrick's many lovers, while also having to wait for him and the other males, including Watts (BRADY CORBET) and Max (CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT), to eat before the women were allowed to.

But with things getting more harry with the passage of time, Martha eventually flees the cult and goes to live with her estranged sister, Lucy (SARAH PAULSON), and new brother-in-law, Ted (HUGH DANCY) at their lakefront, second home. They don't know of her cult involvement, but he isn't pleased with the arrangement, although Lucy feels guilty for not being around to support her younger sister years earlier.

Martha says she's fine, but memories of her experience within the cult continue to haunt her to the point that they start to blend in with reality and she fears that those in the cult will be coming to take her back.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Older teens might have some interest, but that's probably it.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For disturbing violent and sexual content, nudity and language.


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