Set in Los Angeles, Peter (Christopher Denham) and Lorna (Nicole Vicius) are twenty-something would-be investigative filmmakers. They are seeking to expose what they deem to be a cult lead by the mysterious Maggie (Brit Marling). The way into the cult is by a selection process and many fail to make the grade. When sufficient 'preparation on the outside' has been achieved, couples are given instructions to drive to a house and use the supplied remote to open the garage, drive in, close the door and wait in the car for further instructions. They are then forced to give over all their belongings, strip and shower with the instruction "be thorough with the soap". They then put on white surgical gowns have their wrists cable-tied, are blindfolded and driven to a different location. On arrival, in another garage, the cable ties are cut and they are led downstairs into a basement where they encounter Klaus (Richard Wharton) who subjects them to the most bizarre handshake routine to feature in cinema. They then join with eight other people - all wearing the same and are invited to bow in worship as Maggie enters the room pulling an oxygen cylinder on wheels behind her. She then goes into a spiel about how disorienting this will be and that the first night is always the hardest but those who have been through it will testify that what lies ahead is well worth the discomfort.
The rituals, visualisation of the basement, rites of passage and psychobabble that Maggie delivers all feel highly authentic. Maggie claims to be from the year 2054 - from their future. Things have turned a bit apocalyptic and she has come back to select a special band of chosen people to prepare for what lies ahead. It all sounds feasible - even Maggie's apparent weakness is explained by saying that someone from the future is allergic to almost everything of our time - even though it's only 40 years in the future.
The film cuts away to lady checking into a hotel room. Initially she acts most strangely, but it becomes apparent that she is a pro sweeping her room for bugs. Soon afterwards and without explanation, she ends up in the very same sauna that Lorna uses after a swim and initiates a conversation. It is clear the lady knows a lot about Lorna - and Peter and Maggie. It turns out that she is from the Justice Department and that Maggie is a wanted felon. The woman persuades Lorna to set Maggie up - and this she agrees to, without Peter's knowledge.
Review
Brit Marling is "intoxicating" (The Huffington Post) and "stirring" (PEOPLE) in the year's most talked-about psychological thriller. A filmmaker (Christopher Denham) and his girlfriend (Nicole Vicius) set out to expose the beautiful leader of a cult (Marling), who claims to be from the future. But the more they explore, the more danger they face in this ""an intricate and taut thriller" (Claudia Puig, USA Today) from writer-actress Marling and writer-director Zal Batmanglij.
Features
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Details
Actors: Christopher Denham, Nicole Vicius, Brit Marling, Davenia McFadden, Kandice Stroh
Directors: Zal Batmanglij
Writers: Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij
Producers: Brit Marling, Eric S. Richter, Hans C. Ritter, Jennifer Glynn, Shelley Surpin
Format: AC-3, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Dubbed, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 1
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: October 2, 2012
Run Time: 85 minutes
Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
ASIN: B007L6VQWW
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406 in Movies & TV
Trailer Sound of My Voice 2012 :
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