Immaculate (2024)

An Immaculate Conception?

Immaculate is a dark thriller with a retro vibe. Sydney Sweeney stars as Sister Cecilia, a devout American Catholic who immigrates to Italy to join a convent. Cecilia doesn’t understand Italian and has trouble adjusting to her new surroundings.

She becomes friends with Sister Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli), a feisty cigarette-smoking rebel who joined the convent to escape an abusive relationship.

Shortly after taking her vows, the virginal Cecilia is shocked to find herself pregnant. The church hails it as an immaculate conception. Cecilia, uncomfortable with the new attention, discovers that her convent is at the center of a horrifying conspiracy. The “baby” growing inside her is anything but a divine gift.

Immaculate has its share of spooky moments. Director Michael Mohan is effective at building up an atmosphere of gradually escalating suspense. The stylistic violence and musical score are callbacks to ’70s giallo movies. Like the Italian gialli of old, Immaculate doesn’t skimp on the gore. Tongues get cut off, heads get bashed in, and people are burned, and buried, alive.

Cecilia’s quest to reclaim agency of her womb culminates in the film’s unforgettably deranged ending. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling what happens, of course, but its uncompromising brutality must be seen to be believed.

Sydney Sweeney as a nun?

Sydney Sweeney shows her versatility in this role. A nun is certainly a departure from the characters that she usually plays. She’s better known for playing sexy romantic leads, like in Anyone But You.

She deserves credit for starring in a movie like this. It’s certainly not the type of film that caters to her fanbase. A true artist is willing to take risks and try new things in order to develop her craft.

With her effervescent beauty mostly hidden behind a nun’s uniform, Sweeney delivers an understated (at first) performance as a meek, soft-spoken newcomer. Cecilia starts off sweet and naïve, but her personality changes dramatically as the movie progresses.

Her transformation from innocent sweetheart to ferocious badass was too abrupt for my taste. It felt almost like Sweeney was playing a different character in the second half of the movie.

Sydney Sweeney still has some work to do if she wants to burnish her scream queen credentials. She’s solid here, but she’s no Mia Goth. It will be interesting to see if Sweeney stars in more horror movies going forward.