The Next Reel Film Podcast

Our Horror Debuts series comes to an end with Rose Glass’s 2019 film ‘Saint Maud.’ It’s a dark ride on the psychosis train but we find ourselves a little divided on this one. Tune in to find out why!

Show Notes

"We don’t need anyone else.”

The release of Rose Glass’s 2019 film Saint Maud was cut short due to the pandemic. That being said, the film still garnered enough attention from festival play and the awards circuit to become a talking point in movie circles as the newest horror film worth seeing. Glass received a lot of the praise as a new director who clearly has a sense of vision and story with this, her debut feature. And the performances of both Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle were discussed as true highlights. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our Horror Debuts series with Glass’s 2019 film Saint Maud.

We are a bit split on Saint Maud.

Despite the fact that the trailer for this was selected for a Saturday Matinée episode in December 2019, Pete didn’t remember watching it so had no idea what to expect when he started this movie. When the story shifted at its midway point, that disappointed him. The story in that first half engaged him so strongly that he was never able to really connect with the film after that point. Andy, on the other hand, remembered the trailer. While he didn’t feel the trailer changed his opinion of the film, he was able to move along with the shift in the story.

So does that matter? Or does it end up becoming a point in the story where you just have to go along with the shift? Some people seem to be able to go along with that better than others but there certainly is a contingent of people online who seemed to connect more to the first half of the story.

Despite our split, there's a lot to love about Saint Maud.

Outside of that, though, Glass has a sense of story clearly. We both firmly connected with Maud’s journey, particularly as it relates to her time with Amanda. Both Clark and Ehle are perfect in their parts. The exploration of obsession, possession, and mental breakdowns are handled well.

Glass crafted a difficult but affecting journey with Maud. We discuss the way she works through Maud’s descent into madness and religious fervor. Maud's self harm comes up. Maud also uses sex as a tool when she is trying to get out of her personal nadir before reconnecting with God.

Then there’s the conversation with Joy. If Joy had agreed to hang out, would all of this have gone away? Or would it have gotten there eventually? It’s hard to say but interesting to think about.

It’s a powerful film that didn’t affect us equally but is still a strong one worth looking at. So check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!

Join the conversation with movie lovers from around the world on The Next Reel’s Discord channel! Learn more about supporting The Next Reel Film Podcast through your own membership — visit TruStory FM.

Film Sundries


Support The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
The Next Reel Family of Film Podcasts:
Connect With Us:
Shop & Stream:

Creators and Guests

Host
Andy Nelson
With over 25 years of experience in film, television, and commercial production, Andy has cultivated an enduring passion for storytelling in all its forms. His enthusiasm for the craft began in his youth when he and his friends started making their own movies in grade school. After studying film at the University of Colorado Boulder, Andy wrote, directed, and produced several short films while also producing indie features like Netherbeast Incorporated and Ambush at Dark Canyon. Andy has been on the production team for award-winning documentaries such as The Imposter and The Joe Show, as well as TV shows like Investigation Discovery’s Deadly Dentists and Nat Geo’s Inside the Hunt for the Boston Bombers. Over a decade ago, he started podcasting with Pete and immediately embraced the medium. Now, as a partner at TruStory FM, Andy looks forward to more storytelling through their wide variety of shows. Throughout his career, Andy has passed on his knowledge by teaching young minds the crafts of screenwriting, producing, editing, and podcasting. Outside of work, Andy is a family man who enjoys a good martini, a cold beer, a nice cup o’ joe. And always, of course, a great movie.
Host
Pete Wright
#Movies, #ADHD, & #Podcasting • Co-founder @trustory.fm🎥 The Next Reel Family of #Film Podcasts @thenextreel.com🎙️ Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast @takecontroladhd.com📖 Co-author of Unapologetically ADHD • https://unapologeticallyadhdbook.com

What is The Next Reel Film Podcast?

A show about movies and how they connect.
We love movies. We’ve been talking about them, one movie a week, since 2011. It’s a lot of movies, that’s true, but we’re passionate about origins and performance, directors and actors, themes and genres, and so much more. So join the community, and let’s hear about your favorite movies, too.
When the movie ends, our conversation begins.