By: JWBM
Careless mistakes and poor decisions in life come with repercussions: from setbacks, guilt, to even punishment. A young woman named Mary—not of divine namesake—managed to stack up a few, which leads her to seek help with a group of nuns at a catholic boarding house from little elsewhere to turn. The dwelling is remote: not a good sign. There are impossible rules to follow: another nope. Then there's the punishments: something that makes a slap on the knuckles with a ruler look like child's play. The idea should have been golden, since all is forgiven in the Lord's eyes. Clean slate... fresh start... not a chance.
The film has a generous mix of themes interconnected within its story. It takes your typical preying on helpless women horror movie trope and blends that with cultural morals of the '50s, not to mention a cult angle using nuns that are more sinful than a whole congregation of normal church goers combined. It's more evolved than the random person walking home alone on a dark night kind of movie by turning the victim/villain angle into a unique story of its own. It's out there and let's just say it wouldn't happen to you or someone you know, however the individual atrocities and tortuous setups put you in the moment and force you to take it all in whether you'd like to or not. It's the kind of horror where if you were looking for a relaxing night in front of the TV, the director instead yanks you by the shirt and reels you in to feel what they feel.
Its idea of elaborate and sadistic torture becomes a new level of pain, stress, and terror. Yet, it doesn't come all at once, but slowly traps the lead character Mary in a simmering pot where the heat grows stronger and the walls grow taller by the minute. Things go from mildly edgy, uncomfortable, to outright unsettling with a creative twist or two, while all you can do is sign the cross and hope that there's some shred of a miracle in the chaos and darkness.
"St. Agatha" is a highly atmospheric, terrifying, and inventive experience that not only has a share of layers, but manages to do them well enough to come away with a head full of scarring questions related to the dark and insane. The film has a certain trippy vibe going on with exaggerated blues and reds. There are splices of dream-like imagery of Mary's past troubles and present confusion that give it another angle of mood. It's a tale where good isn't anywhere to be found, but it still manages to create a back and forth of constant tension between its "hero" to its masterclass villainess by the name of "Mother." The acting feels practiced and genuine. Sabrina Kern—as Mary—delivers the performance of an intelligent, agonized animal with a stubborn will to survive. Carolyn Hennesy—as the main villain—comes with a duality of sly charm, to then fleshing out the moral-less unchecked power of a cult leader in holy get-up.
This is a film that has the intention to rile you up. It pokes you with a stick, though it has the patience to see how you'll react. It's more emotionally driven than it is sophisticated: the idea is to tap into all of your senses rather than just easily using loud sounds and over-the-top imagery. Most people would become comatose or hide in a corner. Now, imagine you're someone with no where to go or to turn to. What's your next move?
Rating: 8.5/10
Director: Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, Mother's Day, The Barrens)
Actors: Sabrina Kern, Carolyn Hennesy
Info: IMDB link
Trailer: YouTube link
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