Master

At an elite New England university, three women navigate a Gilded Age labyrinth of privilege, power, and prejudice. A new master's student, Jasmine Moore, arrives to find herself living in a dorm room where a witchcraft trial once took place. Meanwhile, the university's first Black president, Gail Bishop, grapples with the institution's racist past and present.

Master received mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its atmosphere, performances, and thematic ambition, though some found its narrative disjointed and its horror elements underdeveloped. Audiences were more divided, with some appreciating its social commentary and others finding it overly didactic or lacking in traditional horror scares.

• Praised for its chilling atmosphere and exploration of systemic racism and microaggressions.

• The performances, particularly Regina Hall's, were frequently highlighted as a strong point.

• Some critics noted that the film struggled to balance its social commentary with effective horror elements.

Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's thought-provoking themes and its attempt to address issues of racism in academia. However, many found the pacing slow and the horror aspects less impactful than the dramatic and social commentary elements.

Nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Director Mariama Diallo drew inspiration for the film from her own experiences attending a predominantly white university and witnessing unsettling incidents that felt rooted in racial bias.