The potential damage is severe in this new trailer and featurette for THE EAST

I think it’s safe to say that I’m a huge fan of Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, and not just because the latter has “Batman” in his name. I loved writer-actor Marling’s breakout Sundance hit Another Earth, and her collaboration with writer-director Batmanglij, The Sound of My Voice, very nearly dethroned The Avengers as my favourite movie of last year. Yes, an indie movie about a possibly crazy girl running a cult in a basement nearly beat out Tony Stark and friends.

So you can imagine how excited I am for their next joint venture, The East, and this thrilling second trailer and new featurette certainly isn’t hurting its cause either.

“The East,” a suspenseful and provocative espionage thriller from acclaimed writer-director Zal Batmanglij and writer-actress Brit Marling, stars Marling as former FBI agent Sarah Moss. Moss is starting a new career at Hiller Brood, an elite private intelligence firm that ruthlessly protects the interests of its A-list corporate clientele. Handpicked for a plum assignment by the company’s head honcho, Sharon (Patricia Clarkson), Sarah goes deep undercover to infiltrate The East, an elusive anarchist collective seeking revenge against major corporations guilty of covering up criminal activity. Determined, highly-trained and resourceful, Sarah soon ingratiates herself with the group, overcoming their initial suspicions and joining them on their next action or “jam.” But living closely with the intensely committed members of The East, Sarah finds herself torn between her two worlds as she starts to connect with anarchist Benji (Alexander Skarsgård) and the rest of the collective, and awakens to the moral contradictions of her personal life.

The East will be going undercover in cinemas on May 31, 2013.

Last Updated: May 2, 2013