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[DVD Review] ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’

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Horror is a broad genre. It wraps its claws around every conceivable genre, twisting and contorting it to make something wholly unique yet, in many cases, incredibly accessible. In many cases, these films transcend every day genre classification, though for the sake of convenience, they’re often lumped into the horror category despite the tone and presentation of the film lending itself far better to drama or, to borrow from the notion of “horror elements,” a dramatic thriller. Martha Marcy May Marlene is one of these films.

mx4posterMartha Marcy May Marlene is a slow, meandering film, transitioning from present day to the titular character’s arrival and time spent at the compound of cult leader Patrick. As she adapts to her new life with her sister and brother-in-law, she becomes increasingly paranoid and unable to fully break free from the lessons learned at the hands of Patrick and fellow cult members.

MMMM spends much of its 100-minute running time making you believe you’re watching a horror film. Martha, played by Elisabeth Olsen, seamlessly moves from accepting her new surroundings to remembering – sometimes fondly, sometimes not – the many “lessons” she learned while in the commune. Through it all, however, she remains intensely paranoid that Patrick and his crew are following her, watching her from afar. Patrick, played by John Hawkes, is charismatic and jovial, yet intensely patriarchal, his actions bordering on the obscene. The performances are commendable, though given the sparse dialogue and misguided tone; it’s hard for them to eclipse good in favor of great.

As time passes, her paranoia grows, with each glimpse into the cult’s life becoming more and more terrifying and thus the possibility of their return all the more real. They’re not just a peaceful cult, their house overflowing with subservient yet eager women and young men; they’re violent and horrifying, providing trite philosophical reassurances for their acts to make them seem far grander, far more important than they really are. As it stands, writer/director Sean Durkin manages to keep the tension steady throughout, but its slow pacing, coupled with its flirtation with horror without making that final jump, manage to make Martha Marcy May Marlene an underwhelming endeavor.

Given the fanfare surrounding the film, one might be inclined to think there would be something in the way of special features. Sadly, the DVD for Martha Marcy May Marlene is bare, with only Sean Durkin’s pre-MMMM short film “Mary Last Seen” available for viewing. Before the short starts, we’re given a bit of background info: The film was an experiment by Durkin who, eager to get back into directing before filming MMMM, wanted to show how a cult can seemingly lure people into their community.

A young couple is embarked on what has been promised by the boyfriend to be an idyllic getaway. Unfortunately for her, he has other plans. At fifteen minutes, the short film doesn’t exactly represent the film Durkin laid out before the short started; while the feature alludes to why wayward young women are drawn to the cult, the short film really does nothing more than depict a boyfriend with ulterior motives. It requires explicit knowledge of the first film to fully make sense of what it’s attempting to convey. The short was made AFTER Martha Marcy May Marlene was written, so as an experiment it’s a worthy endeavor, but as a standalone piece, it’s forgettable.

5/10

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‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Shambles Onto Blu-ray in April With Audio Commentary and Deleted Scenes

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lisa frankenstein trailer 2

The horror-comedy Lisa Frankenstein is headed home to physical media, with the film zombie-walking its way onto DVD and Blu-ray from Universal on April 9, 2024.

Directed by Zelda Williams and written by Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body), Lisa Frankenstein will also be available for a lower price on Digital beginning March 29.

Special Features include:

  • Audio commentary by director Zelda Williams
  • An Electric Connection featurette
  • Resurrecting the ‘80s featurette
  • A Dark Comedy Duo featurette
  • 5 deleted scenes
  • Gag reel

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review for Bloody Disgusting,” Billed as a coming-of-rage tale, Lisa Frankenstein instead offers a celebration of outcasts and weirdos.”

“It makes for a sugary sweet, almost wholesome effort held together by a trio of infectiously winsome performances,” Meagan’s review continued. She added, “As a celebration of teen girls and outcasts who just want to be loved, Lisa Frankenstein ultimately charms.”

Kathryn Newton (Freaky) and Cole Sprouse (“Riverdale”) lead the cast for Focus Features, and the new film is rated “PG-13” for “bloody images and sexual material.”

Carla Gugino (The Fall of the House of Usher), Liza Soberano (Alone/Together), Joe Chrest (Stranger Things) and Henry Eikenberry (The Crowded Room) also star.

[Related] ‘Lisa Frankenstein’ and ‘Jennifer’s Body’: A Match Made in Hot Pink Heaven

In Lisa Frankenstein, “Set in 1989, the film follows an unpopular high schooler who accidentally re-animates a handsome Victorian corpse during a lightning storm and starts to rebuild him into the man of her dreams using the broken tanning bed in her garage.”

Here’s the full official plot synopsis: “A coming of RAGE love story about a misunderstood teenager and her high school crush, who happens to be a handsome corpse. After a set of playfully horrific circumstances bring him back to life, the two embark on a murderous journey to find love, happiness… and a few missing body parts along the way.”

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