This psychological horror film from first-time director Rose Glass follows a pious nurse who becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.
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A psychological horror in which the protagonist descends into madness is an occasionally recurring theme since Roman Polanski’s REPULSION. In SAINT MAUD, the film is appropriately titled as the protagonist, Maud figures she is a saint as she gives palatial care to a dying old woman (Jennifer Erle).
She figures that her seemingness meaningless job would have more meaning if he saves her patient’s soul Trouble is that the dying woman plays around pretending to be saved. As the nurse, Maud slowly grows crazier, the film’s terror increases, towards it expected climax.
The trouble with SAINT MAUD is that it is a straight forward story straight forwardly told with the expected ending. But director Glass shows promise in creating an excellent imagined claustrophobic atmosphere, delivering some genuine scares at the same time.
Morfydd Clark who plays Maud is to be commended for her bravura performance (including some sex scenes) displaying vulnerability and outright obsessive craziness. The film is set in the North Sea British seaside town of Scarborough.
Festival Reviews 