Olsen made her film debut in the 2011 thriller film "Martha Marcy May Marlene". The film, along with her performance, received critical acclaim following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Olsen earned several award nominations for her portrayal of the titular Martha, a young woman suffering from delusions after fleeing her life in a cult and returning to her family, including those for the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead. She attributed her interest in the character to her own fascination with mental illnesses. Olsen next appeared in the horror film "Silent House", which garnered her "rave reviews". Despite premiering at the Sundance Film Festival alongside "Martha Marcy May Marlene", it was released in 2012, during which she also starred in the thriller "Red Lights" and the comedy "Liberal Arts".