Immaculate

Amazingly well filmed and acted, 2024 ahead of The First Omen for me in terms of occultism and religious horror. Blessed, I thank God for entering that word choice, with a marvellous score. Answers and question marks make for a captivating rendezvous. And importantly, as the crucial essence of the genre, this from start to finish. Borrowings from European cinema yes, nunploitation no. Well, a little, but primarily 70s horror. And the contrast between light and dark is a deliberate stylistic device - after all, this is Cecilia's destiny. Just like the harsh impact of violent peaks in the bittersweet basic tone. And at the end of the escalating ordeal, the viewer possibly gains an essential realisation: the suffering of Mary. Thank you, emancipation can be so unobtrusive after all.

The echoes of Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby" are undeniable, from the secluded convent setting to the paranoia and isolation Cecilia experiences. But "Immaculate" carves out its own space in the genre with a surprising amount of bite.

"Immaculate," starring Sydney Sweeney as a young nun named Cecilia, delivers a captivating performance as a woman of quiet strength thrust into a horrifying situation. Where Mia Farrow's Rosemary Woodhouse in "Rosemary's Baby" was a naive outsider, Cecilia possesses a steely resolve. This subtle difference fuels the film's suspense. We see the cracks in Cecilia's faith as she grapples with the inexplicable, but she never loses her agency.

The film tackles themes of female subjugation and bodily autonomy within a religious framework. Cecilia's struggle for control over her own body becomes a potent allegory, particularly in today's social climate. It's a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll, leaving you questioning faith, free will, and the immaculate deception that can lurk behind holy walls.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about 'Immaculate'. It did some stuff I really liked, but then let itself down in other areas. It kept the jump-scares to a minimum, but the ones it did have were pretty easy to spot and ineffectual. It had a lot of gory and hard to watch scenes which were pretty effective and probably when the film was at its strongest. It also contained a fake-out dream sequence which is my most hated horror trope. For everything this film did well it seemed to do something else to offset it.

At first I had trouble buying Sydney Sweeney as a nun. I just couldn't make it work in my head. What I realised as the film went on however, was that her charisma and natural likeability was what was carrying the film. The absolute fundamental key to any horror movie working is that we have to care about the fate of the character/s. And because of her I did.

I liked this film a lot more than I thought I was going after about 15 minutes of the runtime. It's certainly a film that gets better as it goes along. It also does well to not outstay its welcome and keep the runtime to a brisk 89 minutes. I couldn't say this is must-see horror, but I could say it's worthy of giving a chance. 6/10.

6.7/10 (Recommend)

I went into this one completely unaware of what the film was about. My brother-in-law briefly filled me in, but with having no visual expectations I was as virgin to this film has Mary, Mother of Jesus.

The main reason for checking it out is because Sydney Sweeney has been posting TikTok videos from people who have gone and seen the film and have come out "traumatized". There's certain aspects where I can understand why some are coming out of being "mind blown", but I also feel a lot of them aren't into horror films and are seeing just cause she's in it.

Truthfully, I enjoyed the film a lot more than I expected. About 80/85% of the film was good, but the last 15/20% is where it falters and loses all its build-up. Those last twenty minutes were laughable at best and disappointing. The story works, but is definitely fiction in context. Once everything unravels I began to really feel the ninety minutes that this film is.

What makes this movie work at times is the whole nun aspect. Horror nuns are creepy and unsettling for me. The jump scares work half the time. If I was feeling better than I am then the scares wouldn't have got me as much as they did, but recognizing that I can say they aren't anything special especially if you watch horror films often.

This is my first film with Sydney Sweeney and she wasn't bad. She brings good innocence to her character and a boldness, while not unexpected, is wrecked by the execution of the end. I am now curious on some of her previous roles to gauge what kind of actress she has. There's range going from romcom to horror, but doesn't mean you're good.

Overall, a more enjoyable film than I expected, but not out of this world horrific. It shows more graphic scenes than I expected, but I'm not complaining. The ending ruins the rest of the films build-up especially with the lack of graphic visuals. If it's a movie of interest to you then wait for a cheap night or its release to a streaming service.

That's all for now. Thank you for taking the time to read my review. Until next time.... Enjoy the show!

I had the chance to catch "Immaculate" before its release, hoping for a fresh horror experience set in a stunning Italian convent. Unfortunately, the movie felt like a letdown. The story follows Cecilia, who's supposed to uncover some dark secrets in her new, holy home, but it all ends up feeling too familiar.

The film tries to be edgy and dark but doesn't quite hit the mark, almost playing it safe like a PG-13 movie so any comparisons to "Saint Maud" almost feel like an insult. It teases us with brutality but pulls its punches, leaving us with a sense of "been there, seen that" rather than genuine chills or thrills.

Despite its beautiful setting and a premise that could have taken us on a deep, disturbing dive into faith and fear, "Immaculate" doesn't deliver. It ends up feeling like a collection of horror clichés without the bite, missing a chance to really stand out. For those looking for a horror movie that packs a punch, this might not be it.