MOVIE REVIEW: SAINT MAUD

 

Maud is a reclusive young nurse whose impressionable demeanour causes her to pursue a pious path of Christian devotion after an obscure trauma. Now charged with the hospice care of Amanda, a retired dancer ravaged by cancer, Maud's fervent faith quickly inspires an obsessive conviction that she must save her ward's soul from eternal damnation, whatever the cost.

Director: Rose Glass

Cast: Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Knight, Lily Frazer, Turlough Convery

Rated R for disturbing and violent content, sexual content and language

Release Date: January 29, 2021

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Runtime: 1h 24 min

Review:

Saint Maud is one of the most impressive debut films from a horror director since Ari Aster’s Hereditary.  Writer director Rose Glass delivers a self assured, prestige horror film which echoes classic like Possession, Rosemary’s Baby and Don't Look Now.  There’s a sense of uneasiness and dread from the opening frame of the film.  It’s a slow burn of a film but you can sense something off kilter from the start.  There’s something unsettling and pervasive while never being over the top, it’s definitely a film that uses mood over gore.  Welsh actress Morfydd Clark carries the majority of the film and does so with impressive subtly and bite.  Clark’s performance is the driving force of the film as we follow her religious/psychotic journey down the rabbit hole.  Jennifer Ehle is the primary supporting player with Clark and the pair shares an interesting type of chemistry that pays off in the long with horrific results.  Once the film kicks into its final act, Glass lets the sparks fly with impressive creativity and maximum impact.  Saint Maud is the type of horror film the burrows into you mind leaving a lasting impact long after it’s over.

A