Review of Martha Marcy May Marlene

Don't read this if you haven't seen the film yet. Don't read any of these, just go see it! Though unresolved endings are nothing new in film, the abrupt ending to Martha Marcy May Marlene is one of the most apropos uses of an ambiguous ending I've ever seen. The film is designed to leave the viewer in the same state of mind as the title character throughout, wondering if we're experiencing the present or the past, dream or reality. The point of the ending is that the fear, instability, and un-easiness isn't going to fade for Martha. Her experience will not be wrapped-up nicely in some storybook ending, but will continue to haunt her for the rest of her life. She will always live in fear that her world is going to be ripped apart. Other comments have asked about the car at the end, the identity of the bartender, the appearance of Patrick at the lake, and I'm sure the Director could ask for nothing more than for them to be confused. Martha herself doesn't know the answers, and neither should the viewer. My personal opinion is that Martha imagined Patrick at the lake, the car at the end was just odd happenstance, and maybe even the SUV she damaged was unrelated to the Cult, but Martha is going to question those and countless other events for the rest of her life. She'll never hear creaks or rattles the same again... she'll never sleep soundly and consistently... she'll never trust her view of reality, and that's exactly the point of the ending. Great performances, great direction, great movie!