Religious fervour and mental illness are concepts that have been explored in horror before, with varying degrees of success and sensitivity, but rarely have they been brought together with the simmering power and tension that is on display in Saint Maud. Set in a small English town, Maud (Morfydd Clark) is a reclusive and deeply religious hospice nurse who has been assigned the job of caring for the terminally ill Amanda Kohl (Jennifer Ehle), a once acclaimed dancer and choreographer. Quietly spoken and serious, Maud’s attitude toward Amanda ranges from detached professionalism to disapproving of Amanda’s lifestyle and lack of faith. Amanda meanwhile finds Maud both irritating and intriguing, and yet gradually the two women find themselves forming a bond. However, things begin to unravel as Maud starts to believe it is her mission to save Amanda’s soul, and as the gruesome flashforwards shown to the audience at the start of the film suggest, things are not going to end well.
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CINEMA AUTOPSY 