Each year brings new movies - better and worse. There are also some that we are especially waiting for. Saint Maud was just such an offer - long awaited, wanted, desired. Has it become unforgettable? The debut of British director Rose Glass is a proposition for many, but certainly not for everyone.
Psychological thriller
The first few frames convinced me that Saint Maud will not be a classic horror film. The young girl Maud, whose story we learn in the film, is a victim of a world full of evil and vice. Her conversion, however, should not be seen solely as an example of the subjectivization of religious experience. During the screening, we will notice such motives as: asceticism, suffering or an obsessive desire for salvation. The plot of Saint Maud , covering the mystical (insane!) Experiences of the main character, may resemble the screening of Misery’s novel , Polanski’s drama Disgust or the American thriller What happened to Baby Jane?. The title Maud, who works in nursing, introduces the viewer to her world herself. One of her wards is rich (and godless) Amanda. Maud undertakes a difficult task – he wants to convert a woman at any cost, which is to enable a deeper relationship with God. Saint Maud is a classic case study, a study of madness. Obsessive devotion leads the heroine to ill-considered decisions and puts other people’s lives in danger.
Source: nylon.com
It’s worth the sin
Huge applause to Morfydd Clark! The actress plays very naturally, which makes the viewer follow her fate with commitment. In addition, he may have the impression that Maud suffers from a mental disorder (psychosis) – in an instant she turns from a delicate, young girl into a predatory, dangerous believer. The actions of the title character may resemble characters from the horror film Carrie by Stephen King – a daughter susceptible to influence and a pious mother beyond measure. Another Saint Maud actress whose role should be highlighted is Jennifer Ehle, the movie Amanda. The portrait of the dying star has been prepared with the smallest detail in mind. The almost parallel portraits of two neurotic female characters – Maud and Amanda – provide an interesting perspective. Saint Maudit does not make us passive spectators, but draws us into a world we do not know yet. It is a pity that the director forgot about the advantages of the genre to which he belongs, at least in assumption, Saint Maud . Rose Glass’s proposal may be reminiscent of the horror Suspiria , whose creator is Luca Guadagnino. Looking at both of these images, we see an escalation of the heroines’ madness. The ending, however, does not allow us to get answers to all the questions that haunt us.
Source: thinkingfaith.org
The aesthetics of the image
Studio A24 has accustomed us to interesting plot horror films. Most of them are characterized by an innovative approach to the well-worn advantages of the genre. We can mention films such as: Dziedzictwo. Hereditary , Impostor or Midsommar. In broad daylight . Compared to other productions, Saint Maud stands out for its fictional production. You will like both the costumes and the elements of the scenery. The atmosphere of the story is emphasized by the photos of Ben Fordesman – an amazing play of shadows and the depth of color – and the music of Janota Bzdowski. As I mentioned earlier, Saint Maud cannot be called a classic horror film – the atmosphere of horror is built slowly ( jump scaredoes not appear until the second half of the film!), and few plot elements can scare us Some viewers will probably be amused by the main character’s ecstatic spasms, which she will perceive as being close to God. Many will also notice the muscular Jesus on the beloved (venerated) Maud cross and the medal with the image of the harlot Mary Magdalene on the woman’s neck. Case? I do not think so.
We would like to thank the Cinema City chain for the opportunity to watch the film Saint Maud .
