By Jon Donnis
London's FrightFest 2024 certainly had a highlight last year with the premiere of Saint Clare. This blood-soaked thriller didn't just have critics singing its praises; it had audience's blood pressure practically rising in real time. Now, this much-anticipated film is set for its UK release on July 21, 2025, courtesy of 101 Films.
Bella Thorne, known for her roles in Blended and Midnight Sun, really delivers here. She plays the titular lead with an intensity that's caught everyone's attention in this spiritually charged, small-town story, a blend that's been called a powerful mix, like "American Psycho meets Joan of Arc." The film itself is based on a novel by Don Roff and was expertly brought to life by award-winning Italian director Mitzi Peirone, who you might know from Braid. Peirone also teamed up with Guinevere Turner, a writer on American Psycho, to pen the screenplay. And what a cast! We're talking about Ryan Philippe from Crash, Rebecca DeMornay of Risky Business fame, Frank Whaley from Pulp Fiction, and even Bart Johnson from High School Musical. Plus, the film features an original soundtrack by Zola Jesus.
So, what's Saint Clare about? In a quiet town, a solitary young woman starts hearing voices. These voices lead her down a dark path: assassinating people with bad intentions who think they can get away with anything. But her last kill changes everything. It sucks her right down a rabbit hole, one riddled with corruption, trafficking, and twisted visions from beyond. Can Saint Clare escape unimaginable terror as her quest for retribution takes a dangerous turn, pulling her deep into an unknown hell? You'll have to watch to find out.
The buzz is real, and the reviews speak for themselves. The Good, The Bad and The Verdict called it "a highly entertaining slice of genre cinema" and raved that "Thorne’s performance is super." My Bloody Reviews noted the film "continually surprises throughout," describing it as "complex and dark," adding that Bella Thorne was "terrific as feisty, focused, kick-ass Clare." Halloween Horror and Home simply called it a "wonderful thriller" and "one of the highlights of the festival," even praising it as "an incredibly beautiful movie" and "top of my recommendations." And Mr Mayfield’s Madness went as far as saying "Bella Thorne deserves all the award consideration for the powerhouse performance," comparing the film to "one part Dexter and one part American Psycho." They even called Mitzi Peirone’s direction "a masterclass in setup and execution."
Saint Clare arrives on UK digital platforms on July 21, 2025. Don't miss it!
