Time: 89 Minutes
Age Rating: R16 – Graphic violence, horror & cruelty
Cast:
Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia
Álvaro Morte as Father Sal Tedeschi
Dora Romano as Mother Superior
Benedetta Porcaroli as Sister Gwen
Giorgio Colangeli as Cardinal Franco Merola
Simona Tabasco as Sister Mary
Director: Michael Mohan

I heard some positive things about Immaculate, I mainly knew that it starred Sydney Sweeney and that it was a horror movie involving nuns. It turned out to be pretty good, even though I felt that it could’ve been even better.

The story is fairly simple, familiar, and fairly predictable. It is definitely reminiscent of other similar horror movies, like Suspiria and especially Rosemary’s Baby. Overall though, l I still think it is solid on the whole. It’s very straightforward and short at just under 90 minutes. While it takes its time in the first act, it is paced well, and it really shines in the third act. On one hand, this short runtime did allow the movie to move at a fast pace. On the other hand, it resulted in the movie feeling a little thin, it feels like the movie could’ve gotten a lot further and been a lot more than it was. That’s especially considering that there’s some commentary and thematic potential here with the subject matter, including bodily autonomy and religious institutes. That being said, the ending and particularly the final shot really worked for me.

Sydney Sweeney is incredible in the lead role, delivering a strong and intense performance. She expresses so much, especially in the third act, and is the main reason to watch the movie. The supporting cast including Álvaro Morte are good too.

Michael Mohan’s direction is perhaps a bit too standard for what this movie could’ve been, but it’s still solid. It is very well shot and has a good aesthetic, with some top notch production design. As for the scares, it really doesn’t deliver on them, largely consisting of basic jump scares which fail to inspire any reaction. The gore and violence is no slouch however, and the effects are great at making those moments stand out. The score is good too, adding to the atmosphere.

Immaculate is a solid, lean, and well directed horror movie, with an incredible lead performance from Sydney Sweeney.