I recently had the privilege of screening Adrian Morales Ramos’ latest psychological thriller, Martha’s Key, before its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival this May. What at first appeared to be an Inception-inspired story about a hospital cleaning lady who could enter the dreams of comatose patients swiftly took a more sinister turn.
It’s a gripping story with a heart-stopping twist. Jillana Laufer plays the troubled and mysterious Martha, who uses a magical key to reveal dark truths hidden away in patient’s minds. But Martha has a secret of her own. I won’t spoil the ending, but I will say that Laufer delivers a breathtaking performance that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
In a way, Martha is a superhero–or perhaps a vigilante–playing judge, jury, and executioner. She's motivated by an unknown force to right wrongs that may or may not exist in the minds of the coma patients she's trying to help. The source of her magic is the key around her neck, which is a symbol of her troubled past and unfinished business. It's also her prison–a constant reminder of her decisions and actions that can't be undone.
