Flashback and Saint Maud – Movie Reviews

Dylan O’Brien is one of my favorite young actors in Hollywood, and I can’t stress enough that I’m glad he’s back in the game. A highly underrated talent, his level of skill not only in his performances but in choosing his projects has long since impressed me. So, of course, I had to watch his latest psychological thriller, Flashback.

Also Read: Best English Movies of 2021 *So Far*

Flashback, a cerebral thriller, Dylan O’Brien plays Fredrick Fitzell, a young professional whose life seems to be well on track. That is until he starts having visions of a girl he went to high school with. Frederick becomes obsessed with finding out what became of her as he struggles to piece together his reality while under the influence of a “special drug.”

Let me say, Flashback isn’t for everyone. Its message isn’t easily obvious, and it’s not as simple as I’ve seen some describe it. This is the kind of film that only its intended audience is meant to understand. While this may not make it popular, I recommend it if you fall into this category. The problem is, you can’t really discern who that is (unless you completely spoil it) until they’ve actually watched it.

The original title for this film was The Education of Frederick Fitzell. Now I’m not sure why they changed the title to Flashback, but I suspect it was to disguise the actual message of the movie or possibly to market it to a larger audience. Maybe both.

This film takes you deeper into the human psyche than I’ve rarely seen in films, even of its genre. Memories and trauma can take us to dark places. We all exist as the past, present, and future versions of ourselves, all at once. In the end, the choice is all any of us really have.

The cinematic elements of this film were solid and heavily assisted in the portrayal of the message. As does the stellar performance of O’Brien. One of the reasons he remains a great actor in my book is because he allows himself to be used as a physical projection of each and every one of us.

The supporting cast was also great in their own right. I won’t say more and rob you of the experience of putting it all together, but suffice it to say, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this film. Rent ‘Flashback [2020] on Amazon here.’

‘Flashback’ Rating – 3.5/5 | Grade – B+

Review by Jennifer Arthur (@islandgirlreview)

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Saint Maud (2020)

Back in the Christian high school days, I usually listened to speakers who had a revelation from God and heard His voice. Of course, I found those “transformative” moments a load of rubbish. However, this movie took this idea to an extreme, and it was brilliant.

Saint Maud is a slow-burn story of a young woman descending into madness. The plot showed the progress of a new believer who had strong loyalty to God. The music, editing, and cinematography made for atmospheric horror. The twist and end, despite how shocking it was, were fitting and logical.

It was a mockery at the extreme side of Christian belief while being an effective horror. Overall, even though some parts were a bit slow, the movie was incredible and brilliant. Keep listening to God. Watch ‘Saint Maud’ on EPIX here.

‘Saint Maud’ Rating – 4/5 | Grade – A

Review by Nguyen Dang (@in_nguyen_do)

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