Saint Maud

Written and directed by Rose Glass and starring Morfydd Clark. Saint Maud is a psychological drama which explores mental health and religious zeal. Maud (Clark) is a personal care nurse who we find about to start a new placement with Amanda (Jennifer Ehle) a former dancer who is dying and who Maud sees as a soul to redeem.

While it’s sold as a horror it isn’t really, it’s more physiological and with religious core that owes quite a lot to Stephen Kings Carrie. The story is carried brilliantly by Clark who is innocent, lost and disturbing in equal measure, keeping you guessing at both her troubled past and her troubling intentions.

While there is a lot of love from critics and audiences for Saint Maud, it didn’t fully grab me. The story felt disjointed and even though it has a running time of just 85 minutes a little slow.

That said it’s a credit to the director that even with those reservations I was kept involved and intrigued throughout. That was due in no small part to Clarks performance, which keeps you as unsteady as she is unhinged. The performance is magnified by Glass’s directorial decisions with the way the film looked and sounded complimenting Mauds unsettling character perfectly.

While Saint Maud didn’t fully grab me, its excellent central performance and unsettling storytelling meant there was something about it that kept me invested throughout and makes it worth a watch.