10 Horror Movies That Stick The Landing
6. Saint Maud
Director Rose Glass pulled no punches with her debut feature, 2019's Saint Maud.
Morfydd Clark stars as the eponymous character (real name Katie), who starts a new life after she fails to save a patient whilst working as a nurse. Her conversion to Catholicism brings her into direct confrontation with the terminally ill Amanda (Jennifer Ehle), a dancer whom Maud is assigned to look after.
Saint Maud is a brilliant depiction of how virtue can go too far, as Maud convinces herself that it is her duty to cleanse her client's soul before she dies. This leads to a confrontation with Amanda who appears to be possessed by a demon. Maud slays the beast, believing she has carried out God's will.
However, that's far from the end of things.
Her duty done, Maud goes to a nearby beach and sets herself on fire. The audience sees two versions of this; one where Maud is taken up to Heaven with angel's wings, and one where she is horribly burnt to death.
A staggering exploration of faith and the lengths people will go to for it, Saint Maud is quite the ride. A tip of the hat to you, Ms. Glass.