'Martha Marcy May Marlene' Trailer: New Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes Film Gets New Look (VIDEO)

One shouldn't draw strict, taught parallels to the two situations, but it is interesting that Elizabeth Olsen's breakout film is one about escaping a cult and the subjugation of one's own person to finding a personal freedom. Olsen, of course, is the younger sister of Mary-Kate and Ashley, the two lifetime celebrities, forever in their shadow. Her two older siblings are not in any way cruel or menacing, like the film's cult leader, but both story lines, on screen and in real life, share the crucial element of the 22-year old star coming into her own.

Olsen's big vehicle is "Martha Marcy May Marlene," an indie drama in which she plays that girl who is seduced by, and then escapes, the clutches of the cult leader, portrayed by a grizzled John Hawkes (looking much the same as he did in "Winter's Bone"). It stole the show at Sundance, and is part of her big 2011; she'll also star in "Peace, Love & Understanding," with Chace Crawford and play a smaller part in "Red Lights," which stars Robert De Niro and Sigourney Weaver.

The film hits theaters on October 21st.

WATCH:

Comments

[Richie Arias]

09:05 PM on 08/22/2011

Wow... finally a beautiful one!

[LLNYRN]

07:45 PM on 08/22/2011

I know a number of Olsen's former fellow acting students via my job.
They've all had nothing but RAVES about her.

Here's wishing her the best.
And it's appears she's escaped the foibles of her sisters.

[MeMyselfI]

11:04 PM on 08/22/2011

This isnt the first time I've heard this. Cant remember who or when but I do recall it was positive remarks about her skills as an actress.

[Max Shaw]

04:26 PM on 08/22/2011

She's a breath of fresh air compared to the other two.

[Squiriferous]

05:14 PM on 08/23/2011

A wet fart is a breath of fresh air compared to the other two.

[Squiriferous]

04:09 PM on 08/22/2011

There's a third child star Olsen? God help us all.

[SteveSFM]

10:12 PM on 08/22/2011

Didn't read the story, huh?

[Squiriferous]

05:15 PM on 08/23/2011

Sure I did, you goof. What about my post prompted you to even ask such a thing?

[Treehuggindirtworshiper]

03:29 PM on 08/22/2011

Best of luck to her.

[thoreau101]

02:33 PM on 08/22/2011

Acne is news?

[J0E1]

02:17 PM on 08/22/2011

She didn't speak once in the entire clip.  Let's hope she can act better than her older sisters post kindergarten.

[DaniFoxy]

02:14 PM on 08/22/2011

Cute girl. Looks worth watching too.