Saint Maud

A24 | Release Date: January 29, 2021

7.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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JLauAug 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Private care nurse discovers religion after death of patient and tries to save the soul of her next patient but kills her instead, then, sets herself on fire on the beach.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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JLuis_001Feb 5, 2021

Part of me feels that my opinion of this film should be mixed with some hypocrisy on my part.
I always say don't judge based on expectations, but mine were huge, and this story unfortunately didn't surprise me in the least.
ReligiousPart of me feels that my opinion of this film should be mixed with some hypocrisy on my part.
I always say don't judge based on expectations, but mine were huge, and this story unfortunately didn't surprise me in the least.

Religious fanaticism is nothing new, especially in film, but I admit that I find it interesting with the horror mixture. But and although I'm aware that this is a filmmaking debut; Saint Maud resorts to simplistic errors in its eagerness to create a provocative aura that in my opinion fails to conjure.

The atmosphere is very good, I liked that a lot, but there's very little to rescue in terms of the protagonist's journey, because from very early on, the story suggests that there will be no ascent for her, but only a downward spiral. Therefore considering the narrative is supposed to be supported by suspense, there's very little of it that feels crucial.
Its own glacial pace gets in its own way a lot, and causes the tension to melt away.

The best attributes are the atmosphere and its outstanding tone, and of course the music. The lead actress felt kinda detached. There's certainly well-executed horror in some rewarding passages, but as I said, the story stops itself from exploiting to the fullest and taking advantage of its best qualities, and when the ending comes, it's violent, but it cannot inevitably feel late.

I liked Saint Maud, although perhaps in my review it doesn't seem like that, but as I said, I had certain preconceptions of what it would deliver, and although I'm judging the end result, I cannot manage to put aside part of my disappointment.
But that's just about me, so I can actually recommend it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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Brent_MarchantMay 28, 2021

As an atmospheric psycho-spiritual thriller, writer-director Rose Glass's debut feature ambitiously attempts to tell a chilling cautionary tale about the dangers religion run amok as seen through the mind of a pious yet troubled palliativeAs an atmospheric psycho-spiritual thriller, writer-director Rose Glass's debut feature ambitiously attempts to tell a chilling cautionary tale about the dangers religion run amok as seen through the mind of a pious yet troubled palliative care nurse. After a carefully constructed opening act, however, the film never seems quite sure where it wants to go from there, flailing about in a sea of exotic imagery and left-field plot developments that don't quite mesh. Fine performances by Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle, along with superb cinematography, intriguing (though underdeveloped) references to the theology of William Blake, and a menacingly ominous soundtrack, make for intriguing and visually dazzling (albeit sometimes puzzling) viewing, although that combination never quite culminates in the payoff that its buildup seems to promise. In the end, the gravity of the material here would appear to be beyond the grasp of a first-time feature filmmaker, despite the potential revealed in a number of aspects of the production. Better luck next time out.… Expand