Saint Maud

Starring: Morfydd Clark, Caoilfhionn Dunne, Jennifer Ehle, Marcus Huttton, Lily Frazer, Lily Knight
Directed by: Rose Glass
Rating: R
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
2020

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A religious nurse (Morfydd Clark) becomes obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient (Jennifer Ehle).

Review:

Tim: Man, Saint Maud is certainly not an expected horror movie. I'm still processing what I saw. I will say that Rose Glass' film doesn't conform to our expectations, it challenges us in different ways. It's frightening, confusing, horrifying. It's a unique horror movie and one of the most memorable I've seen in recent years.

I loved the tone Glass set with her film. You're not quite sure how to interpret the events of the film. What exactly are we watching? Are we watching a delusional woman, barely holding onto her sanity? Are we watching a woman connecting genuinely with a supreme being? Or, are we watching something more supernaturally sinister? The movie toys with these different ideas, presents just enough data so that the audience can interpret the story for themselves (until the end, of course). This was an effective way to tell this story. I was intrigued by the story of Maud. I wanted to understand what was happening. Not only what she believed was happening, but the actual truth. This movie plays with these ideas. This is a horror movie, but it's more than a narrowly defined film. It's a dramatic story of a lost woman, it's also a story about religion and religious belief. The script is far deeper and more complex than the typical horror film. This more intellectual approach to the subject pays off. This isn't a movie that you watch and forget. It sticks with you long after the credits roll.

Morfydd Clark was fantastic in the lead role. I say this because I really didn't like her. She was awkward, uncomfortable. Her performance hits every note it should, keeping the audience off balance. You might feel some level of sympathy for her, but Clark never lets her become completely sympathetic. There's something off, something wrong with Maud. Clark dives deep into this character and gives a multilayered performance that is hard to wrap your arms around. Clark may not have been enjoyable in the role, but that was intentional. Her strengths come from creating some distance between Maud and the audience. It's a fantastic performance. I also liked Jennifer Ehle here. She's impressed me multiple times before and she gives another effective performance here, in a supporting role. She's important to the movie and her elevated performance improves the film. The rest of the cast is fine, but it's Clark and Elhe who make the real impressions.

This film is frightening, but unconventionally so. I loved that the movie was able to create truly scary moments without relying on jump scares. It subverts expectations, it offers multiple uncomfortable moments. The body horror scenes were awful. I get a little chill down my spine just thinking about them. They were hard to watch and I didn't like them, but they were incredibly effective. The religious aspects of the film were uncomfortable as well. I loved this pairing- these tangible, physical moments of horror paired with these more abstract, conceptual ones. The movie really hits the audience from all angles.

I have to talk about the conclusion, which is one of the most powerful, memorable ones I've seen in years. I liked the movie up until the end, but it's that final scene, the final moment that Glass delivers the knockout punch. I wouldn't say the film is "great", because it took a lot to get to that last moment. The ending of the film is what gets this close to greatness. It's what elevates it by causing you to rethink the entire film. It's a wonderfully powerful, memorable moment that causes you to sit up. I verbally uttered a curse in surprise at that last scene. It was an incredible way to end the film.

Saint Maud is definitely not for everyone. It's a slow burn film with many uncomfortable moments along the way. It's memorable, though, and has real power. Ross Glass stuns with her feature film directorial debut. There's so many flashes of real genius in this film. I can't wait to see what she does next.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
Hereditary, Midsommer