Immaculate

It all started in 2014 with a different plot and vibes, but it all changed perhaps to fulfil the new nunsploitation revivals. 

This 2024 film is directed by Michael Mohan and stars the rising actress Sydney Sweeney, who was initially cast for a role in a screenplay by Andrew Lobel. However, the project has never seen the light. Determined to see it through, Sweeney later revived the project and brought Mohan on board to direct.

The film is set in a convent in the Italian countryside where young and devout Sister Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) moved from the United States. Upon her arrival, she is met with hostility, and she soon finds herself in a sinister and oppressive environment. The other nuns are introduced hastily, with their characters remaining ambiguous and their actions somewhat predictable. However, the film does not fully explore their personalities or roles in the story.

While the characters do take shape as the film progresses, a bit more elaboration would have enhanced their presence. A major flaw of the film is that it hints at deeper storylines from the beginning but fails to develop them fully. As a result, these characters remain merely background figures to Sister Cecilia, who, unaware of her fate, moves towards her destiny.

The movie unfolds slowly and somewhat confusingly, saving its most intense moments for the final act. From the third act onward, the mystery is revealed, though hints are scattered throughout the story, blending elements of religion and "experimentation."

Unfortunately, this resolution is developed superficially, preventing the viewer from fully appreciating the film's core and immersing us in an almost banal and somewhat absurd spiral of violence. This aspect is regrettable because, while the film initially seems like the usual tale of a satanic cult hidden in an underground monastery, it presents an intriguing and underexplored perspective on the horror-demonic genre. Essentially, it is an inverted 'The Omen' that had the potential to deliver much more.

Despite its flaws and lack of success, it manages to keep you glued to the screen until the end—driven more by curiosity than fascination. The plot becomes truly compelling when Cecilia discovers she is pregnant despite never having slept with a man. Is it a miracle? Or something more sinister?

Although the film is labelled as a psychological horror, the psychological aspects are limited. As the plot unfolds, it blends elements of sci-fi (though this should be taken with a grain of salt, as you'll understand after watching) and body/pregnancy horror, attempting to evoke the style of Italian Giallo but ultimately falling short.

The movie fails to create the dark and distressing atmosphere typical of the genre, lacking the narrative strength required to tackle important issues related to women's bodies and their freedom.

Immaculate had the potential to be daring and intriguing, with all the right elements in place, but ultimately disappoints in every aspect of its narrative execution.

The conclusion after watching it is a sense of missed potential in exploring such a promising concept. The viewer is left believing they've watched a good film, only to realize it's only a powerful ending to an otherwise bad movie.