Now playing in UK and US cinemas is the psychological horror, Immaculate. The movie – directed by Michael Mohan – stars Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, and Benedetta Porcaroli, and tells the story of a young nun who moves to an Italian convent only to find herself caught up in the midst of a hidden (and disturbing) secret.
In the movie, Sister Cecilia receives an invitation to join a secluded convent in Italy, which cares for aged nuns in their final years. After accepting the invitation, Cecilia joins her fellow sisters and begins the process of settling in.
From the first day she arrives, Cecilia encounters some unexplained and unsettling experiences, but nothing quite prepares her for what comes next. To Cecilia’s complete surprise, she falls pregnant at the convent, in what appears to be a case of immaculate conception.
Overjoyed about the arrival of a baby in such a holy way, the sisters vow to take care of Cecilia so she can give birth to her miracle baby as safely as possible. But something strange is taking place, with Cecilia caught in the middle, and all may not be what it seems.
Full disclaimer: Before going in to watch Immaculate, I had absolutely no knowledge of this movie. I usually have a bit of background information about a film I’m going to view, or I’ve at least watched a preview trailer or TV spot, but nope, I saw nothing about this film and went in blind.
As such, I had no expectations about the film and no speculation about what was to unfold. I just sat in front of Immaculate and allowed it to take me wherever it pleased.
And to be clear, it certainly took me on a journey. Immaculate is a dark, twisted horror, filled with suspense, tension, gore and violence, and it is one heck of a tale of terror which really got to me.
I know it’s only March, and we’ve had a pretty quiet start to the year thanks to last year’s strike action, but I believe Immaculate is already one of the best horrors of 2024. The film has a way of getting under the skin and into the mind, leaving you feeling shaken and uneasy, and a little frightened along the way.
Taking a dash of inspiration from Rosemary’s Baby, Immaculate tells a creepy tale about nuns, pregnancy, and paranoia. It’s a slow-burning horror, but one filled with plenty of atmosphere and jump scares, and it all builds to a truly gruesome finale.
At the centre of the story is Sister Cecilia – a good-natured young woman who is keen to devote her life to God. Cecilia has taken three vows, which she aims to adhere to, but things don’t play out as planned.
Unfortunately, Cecilia finds herself in a horrific situation which she could never have imagined. I won’t go into further details about the situation, other than what I’ve already highlighted about a conception, but it is a situation which becomes inescapable.
As the story unfolds, Cecilia doesn’t know what horrors surround her or who to trust and she becomes trapped and isolated. Her plight forms the backbone of the film and as the darkness begins to surround her, Cecilia’s story becomes ever more engrossing.
The film also becomes pretty brutal too. Immaculate isn’t wall-to-wall guts and violence, so don’t expect something like last year’s Evil Dead Rise, but when the film needs to deliver some shocks it isn’t afraid to indulge in some blood splatter and there are a few wince-inducing moments.
What I like most about Immaculate is the way director Michael Mohan builds up the story. He takes his time to develop the horror, without rushing things, yet still finds space for some disturbing moments to keep things interesting.
His approach to suspense and horror runs all the way through the movie, from the opening sequence right through to the jaw-dropping final scene and the film never loses sight of its objective to scare. It does this very well at multiple points throughout the picture, and the film certainly knows how to deliver some well-placed frights.
The movie also benefits from having Sydney Sweeney front and centre. The actress sells the part of Sister Cecilia with ease, and it’s not difficult to get lost in her story.
Sweeney is having a busy start to 2024 thanks to the release of romantic comedy Anyone But You, as well as the Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web, and she proves once again what a talent she is. Sweeney makes for a likeable lead and a believable one too and she brings a solid energy to the film.
As well as Sweeney, and the smart direction, Immaculate has a strong script from writer Andrew Lobel, as well as some excellent cinematography from Elisha Christian. All the elements of this film pull in the same direction and the end result is something truly chilling and remarkably compelling.
Immaculate is a superb horror movie, which hits all of the right notes in exactly the right order. The film uses isolation and mystery to create its story, wheels out the blood and gore to shock and surprise, and introduces a certain level of ambiguity to proceedings to prompt debate and discussion.
The set-up is an expertly crafted jaunt into the realm of suspense, while the final act is a masterclass in horror. Everything in between finds ways to delight too, and horror fans should embrace it when they get the chance.
Immaculate opened alongside big budget blockbuster Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, as well as buzzworthy horror Late Night With the Devil, so there is a chance it will get lost in the mix, but try not to let it. If you’re a fan of psychological terror then Immaculate is one for you and it is sure to send a shiver down the spine in a very unholy way.
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