Film: Martha Marcy May Marlene (15)

Director: Sean Durkin

Starring the little sister of Disney darlings Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen you’d be forgiven for expecting Elizabeth Olsen’s second star vehicle to be a bit more pap, a bit more mainstream, and perhaps a good old fashioned romcom. Martha Marcy May Marlene is none of these, and has been collecting award wins and nominations for its cast and crew, and star up and down the festival scene to prove it.

Elizabeth Olsen stars as Martha, a young woman who has recently escaped from a cult environment and its charismatic leader Patrick. Attempting to assimilate herself back into her family home and a normal life, she finds it increasingly difficult as paranoia and painful memories lead her to believe that the cult was not as easy to escape as she first thought. With shadows around every corner and a narrative perspective leading you to find doubt in everything, this is an impressive and tense psychological thriller set to leave questions with its audience. Also starring Sarah Paulson, John Hawkes, Hugh Dancy and Maria Dizzia.

Released Friday 3 February
Showing at Odeon and Cineworld