Writer/Director Rose Glass’ modestly budgeted horror film Saint Maud is an impressive display of skillful filmmaking and doubly as Glass’ feature film debut.

Morfydd Clark plays Maud a former hospital nurse now turned to in-home hospice care for the dying. Maud is deeply religious and often prays in a conversational manner with God which the audience experiences as well-crafted voiceover. Haunted by a traumatic event seen only the glimpses through flashback Maud is clearly a lonely young woman of with a devout and possibly fanatical mindset. Her newest hospice charge is Amanda, played by Jennifer Ehle, a free-spirited professional dancer now confined to a wheelchair as a cancer in her spine marches her towards her death. Rather than being repelled by Amanda’s alcohol indulgences and same-sex assignations Maud becomes obsessed not only with easing Amanda’s final days but saving her soul. Throughout the film’s brief 84-minute runtime Maud experiences events that may be supernatural in origin or psychotic breaks from reality with Glass’ directorial hand deftly charting a course between the two possibilities until the film’s final few frames.

Saint Maud is a well crafter piece of mood cinema. The cinematography perfectly captures the atmosphere of Maud’s isolated life and with reveling in filth conveys the sense of a fallen and broken world that we inhabit. Clark’s soft and often understated performance as Maud couple with a script that leans towards ambiguity creates a film that invites the viewers to build their own interpretation rather than holding your hand and explaining everything. Jennifer Ehle is perfectly cast as the chaotic Amanda a woman of considerable talent now dealing with life’s cruel and chaotic misfortune. At time understanding of Maud’s faith and at other times mocking it Amanda and Maud are the dynamic that drives this feature. A fascinating and thoughtful film Saint Maud is well worth the time to watch intently and not casually while you do other chores.

Saint Maud is currently streaming on Epix and Paramount+.