Martha Marcy May Marlene

This film about a cult has all the hallmarks of being a future cult classic...

For all of its narrative flaws – not to mention its annoying title – there’s a lot to like about this assured debut feature from writer-director Sean Durkin. Not least is Elizabeth Olsen’s incredible central performance as a young woman who flees life in an abusive cult to take refuge with her sister.

Fox’s Blu-ray serves up a detailed yet low-contrast AVC 2.40:1 1080p transfer that gives the film a deliberately dream-like atmosphere, aided brilliantly by the moody DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. Slightly disappointing extras consist of a selection of five very short behind-the-scenes featurettes (Spotlight on Elizabeth Olsen, The Story, The Making of Martha Marcy May Marlene, A Conversation with the Filmmakers and The Psyche of a Cult), a music video and a (rather good) 14min short film entitled Mary Last Seen.

20th Century Fox, All-Region BD, £25 Approx, On sale now
HCC VERDICT: 4/5

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