John Hawkes co-stars as Patrick, the seductive and dangerous leader of the underground community. "I wasn't interested in a movie about cults, and then I read the script and the word 'cult' is nowhere in it. That led me to begin to call it a community and try to develop that idea more in my mind."

Sean Durkin wrote and directed "Martha Marcy May Marlene," which was shot on location in the mountains of upstate New York. While it was inspired by the real-life experiences of several women, Durkin believes the impact of their experiences relates to a wide range of situations.

"I have never been in a cult or come across one, but I do know people who have been addicted to drugs or are alcoholics or are in abusive relationships," Durkin says. "Most people do know someone like that and how many of their families step in right away and say 'Okay, we're going to take care of it?' I feel like people don't confront these issues. It takes a long time to actually get there."

Where it actually gets disturbs some viewers because Durkin ends "Martha Marcy May Marlene" rather abruptly.

But Olsen says it's in keeping with the film's realism.

"I think a lot of times we go to films to have nice, fixed story because we don't have that in our own lives. There is no fixed ending in any day of our lives. You don't get that in this movie, and I appreciate that."