It is a fascinating subject for a movie to see the after effects on a member of a cult. Elizabeth Olsen acts as the title's Martha who escapes from an upstate cult and stays with her sister played by Sarah Paulson and her husband.
First the strong points. Elizabeth Olsen is a watchable actress who takes on this difficult role convincingly. The matter of fact way the cult is depicted is chilling and realistic.
There are two major flaws in the movie. The shifting between present and flashback are too difficult to distinguish for the viewer. Even if they were trying to make it seem like a blurring of reality for Martha, it just ended up being confusing.
The second unsatisfying plot element is that they didn't show her sister and brother in law discovering what happened to her in the cult. It made them seem not understanding. Maybe that was the purpose. But it just felt annoying that they didn't find out. Hand in hand with that is that the ending could have been a more conclusive.
Overall it is unsatisfying and disappointing.
First the strong points. Elizabeth Olsen is a watchable actress who takes on this difficult role convincingly. The matter of fact way the cult is depicted is chilling and realistic.
There are two major flaws in the movie. The shifting between present and flashback are too difficult to distinguish for the viewer. Even if they were trying to make it seem like a blurring of reality for Martha, it just ended up being confusing.
The second unsatisfying plot element is that they didn't show her sister and brother in law discovering what happened to her in the cult. It made them seem not understanding. Maybe that was the purpose. But it just felt annoying that they didn't find out. Hand in hand with that is that the ending could have been a more conclusive.
Overall it is unsatisfying and disappointing.