Sundance review: In 'Master,' horror meets social commentary, as microaggressions build along with the tension

Microaggressions gradually turn macro in “Master,” which melds elements of horror thriller and social commentary about subtle and not-so-subtle racism on a prestigious college campus.

At Ancaster College, Gail Bishop (Regina Hall) has just taken the position of house master (an unfortunate title that writer-director Mariama Diallo says only recently was altered at her alma mater, Yale) for one of the dormitories — the first Black woman to hold the post. Moving into this dorm is Jasmine Moore (Zoe Renee), a Black freshman from Tacoma who is eager to get good grades and fit in with the mostly white student body, including her roommate Amelia (Talia Ryder).

Jasmine and Amelia have been assigned to what upperclassmen refer to ominously as “The Room.” Room 302, we’re told, is where young women have either jumped out the window or hanged themselves — always at 3:33 a.m. on December 4. That date is significant, as it’s when a woman in the town, Margaret Millet, was hanged as a witch in the 1700’s.

Jasmine starts seeing things, and hearing things, that make her think the legend of the witch has some validity. Away from home and struggling in school and socially, Jasmine feels increasingly isolated — a problem exacerbated when she challenged a grade given by her literature professor, Liv Beckman (Amber Gray). Prof. Beckman, who is Black and one of Gail’s only friends on campus, has her own problems, as she’s up for tenure and battling the entrenched all-white faculty (led by Talia Balsam).

Diallo sets up her film beautifully, as the three Black women — Gail, Jasmine and Liv — try to deflect the small instances of insensitivity dealt to them by the college’s predominantly white populace. As those microaggressions grow larger, and for Jasmine and Gail take on a menacing supernatural element, Diallo builds the tension to a peak. But that peak hits a bit early, and the finale stumbles a bit as subtext becomes the text.

Renee is a welcome discovery, hitting every step perfectly in Jasmine’s descent into possible madness. Gray (who appeared on Barry Jenkins’ “The Underground Railroad”) brings a spiky edge as Liv challenges the college’s status quo. And Hall (“The Hate U Give,” “Girls Trip”) gives a powerful, yet neatly internalized, performance as a woman whose battles haven’t produced the victory she sought. That trio of performances gives “Master” the emotional punch that stays with viewers well after the credits roll.

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‘Master’

★★★

Premiered Friday, January 21, in the U.S. Dramatic competition at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Screens again on the festival portal, Sunday, January 23, for a 24-hour window starting at 8 a.m. (It starts streaming March 18 on Prime.) Not rated, probably R for violence, sexual content, and language. Running time: 102 minutes.