Immaculate

Immaculate

Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is offered a fulfilling new role at an illustrious Italian convent. Her warm welcome to the picture-perfect Italian countryside is soon interrupted as it becomes clearer to Cecilia that her new home harbors some dark and horrifying secrets.

  • Released:
  • Runtime: 90 minutes
  • Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thrillers
  • Stars: Sydney Sweeney, Álvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giorgio Colangeli, Simona Tabasco, Giampiero Judica, Niccolò Senni
  • Director: Michael Mohan
 Comments
  • thesar-2 - 29 June 2024
    Rosemary's Baby: Resurrection
    I'm so removed from the Catholic religion, the plot had to literally spell everything out before the title clicked for me.

    Yep, when the main character gets pregnant out of nowhere - no spoiler, again, see the title, I was OHHH, I forgot about that. LOL.

    Immaculate is really a simple story of a superiorly young Nun moving to an Italian convent decades ago and trying to fit in when BAM! That virgin gets preggers. Then things get odd for her and how everyone treats her.

    The biggest problem I had with this movie was how it was lit. Or, well, lack of light. This movie is beyond dark. I watched it during the day in a somewhat bright living room and I could barely see it. I wondered if I need to see this at night - which, of course, is my preferred method of horror movie viewings.

    And so, I did, just now. All lights/night light things off, and it's much easier to see, but still horribly dark. I even adjusted my TV settings to make it brighter. That only helped a bit. Not sure why they made this choice.

    I probably wouldn't have seen this movie as I'm not really into Nunsploitation films. I haven't even seen The Nun 1 or 2. It's just that my favorite reviewer/vlogger, James A. Janisse of Dead Meat fame, is covering this next weekend, so I figured I'd give it a shot. He rarely features movies he hates.

    It reminded me of a Cross between Suspiria, Rosemary's Baby, The Omen and oddly, Alien: Resurrection. I am a fan of all of those, and yes, even Alien Part 4. So, I was okay here. Admittedly, there's not much to the story once the title issue is presented about one-third of the way in, but it does have a very effective opening and finale. And more than a few jump scares were effective.

    Recommended, especially for Conjuring Universe fans.

    ***

    Final Thoughts: "I can't believe anybody would want to be a Nun. I mean, 'Nun' - the word says it." ~ Blanche Devereaux. One of my favorite ever Golden Girls lines from my all-time favorite TV show.
  • nERDbOX_Dave - 18 June 2024
    "Immaculate" carves out its own space in the genre with a surprising amount of bite.
    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.