Rose Glass’ rightly acclaimed feature directorial debut is a chilling thriller driven by two central powerhouse performances.
Live-in nurse Maud (Morfydd Clark) arrives at the home of Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a famous dancer now frail from illness and trapped in her grand, isolated house. At first Amanda is intrigued by this religious young woman, who provides distraction from her failing health. Maud, in turn, is bewitched by her new patient. But Maud is not all she seems. Tormented by a violent secret from her past and the ecstatic messages she believes have come directly from God, she believes she has been sent to deliver Amanda to her lord, free from the sins of her past. As Maud’s grip on reality becomes more tenuous, her desire to save Amanda’s soul finds her adopting increasingly extreme measures. It’s credit to Glass’ skill as a filmmaker, along with Clark and Ehle’s performances, that Saint Maud remains a taut, nerve-jangling experience, right up to its final, jaw-dropping shot.
★★★★★ “A taut, sinewy treat, blessed with an impressively fluid visual sensibility” - Mark Kermode’s Film Of The Year, The Observer
★★★★★ “Saint Maud heralds the arrival of a thrillingly distinctive new voice.” - Robbie Collin, The Telegraph
★★★★★ “An exquisite slice of religious horror” - Clarisse Loughrey, Independent
