At first glance, the trailer for Saint Maud its color palette, tone, and subject matter would make cinephiles wonder if Hereditary‘s Ari Aster was behind the project. However, first-time writer-director Rose Glass is responsible for this bold and visceral, chilling film that tackles faith and salvation.
Saint Maud is an unsettling, shocking ride that journeys into the mind of possession in an untraditional fashion. It will leave cinephiles questioning their ideas of faith and one’s life purpose. A24’s first release of 2021 is undoubtedly one that will create conversations and unsettle audiences.
In the film, Maud (Morfydd Clark) suffers a traumatic experience at the film’s opening, which leads her to become a newly devout hospice nurse who becomes obsessed with saving her dying patient’s soul. Amanda does not have much time left. What follows are some of the best atmospheric horrors since Hereditary.
Saint Maud is offering a dive into both religion and the kind of fear that comes from it. What aids in understanding that fear and devotion is Maud’s voice-over narration as she speaks to God. Maud believes that Amanda was sent to her by him; inclining this is “your plan for me.” The fear comes from that “plan” that leads Maud into chilling moments where the term “too-far” can be appropriately placed to fulfill God’s wishes.
Director Rose Glass’s choice to have the film’s cinematography create a sense of it being timeless despite taking place in the present day was exceptional. Along with its cinematography, the film’s makeup, and Maud herself make this film ageless. She is an addict, searching for forgiveness from God for that said addiction and past trauma, and that is chillingly brought in Clark’s performance.
As Maud, Clark is stunning! She offers up a level of vulnerability and fragility that is hard not to understand her pain. Throughout the film, Clark’s able to exude levels of fear in both the natural scarring she suffered, but also the realization of the classes she’s going to complete her faith-based mission. While this performance may go unrewarded, it’s hard to imagine this not being one of my top 5 favorite female performances of 2021.
Saint Maud will certainly bring about divisiveness between critics and viewers that films like this usually cause. That divide is already on display, but the disparity between the Rotten Tomatoes critics and audience scores. That stems from the fact that similar to Hereditary. The film doesn’t aim to terrify its viewer in the traditional sense. It intends to bring to create an unsettling feeling that will spark conversation for all cinephiles, especially for those who have left the Catholic faith because of the level of Maud’s devotion. Don’t miss this film.
The finale’s ambiguity will immediately set folks into a frenzy, which is essentially what the film is trying to create. It’s a short 84 minutes in length which makes it a quick watch, but there is no denying the impact that Saint Maud will leave on cinephiles upon completion.
