Modern Concerns
Immaculate is a nostalgic film bringing back memories of the Italian horror subgenre. It also seeks to provide relevant commentary on contemporary issues regarding women’s bodily autonomy. However, the execution has not been optimal. The film lacks the artistic inventiveness of its Italian predecessor. However, it also fails to provide a thematic message deep enough to connect with viewers. After receiving high praise for her role in Anyone but You and hosting Saturday Night Live, Sydney Sweeney is currently on the rise in popularity, and the horror-themed project is just one example. The film benefits from its partnership with Neon, one of the most prominent distributors in the industry.
Although Sweeney gives a great performance, showcasing new aspects of her acting talent, and showing how she has what it takes to succeed as the scream queen archetype, unfortunately, her lack of ambition causes other aspects of the film to fail miserably. Indeed, the fact of Sweeney’s additional role as producer suggests that Immaculate is a project driven by her passion. However, such enthusiasm seems to be less than in other productions. The film was of equivalent quality to a direct-to-video release, leaving Sweeney stuck with a project that did not meet her expectations.
Throughout the entire film, it is impossible not to wish for a more engaging audiovisual experience. Ostensibly, we are waiting for Russell Crowe to reappear in the role of Julius Avery’s The Pope’s Exorcist in the film appearing with his famous Vespa to bring Sweeney to more great films. Cecilia (a young woman whose past is completely hidden apart from her dogged commitments) is played by Sweeney. Such devotion is the result of a terrible incident she experienced as a child on a frozen lake that almost took her life.
Bland Visual Experience
Like almost all the characters in Immaculate, Cecilia is a mystery and just a piece of information moved around on the symbolic genre chessboard. A film with a strong visual aesthetic might make up for a lack of character development. But Michael Mohan’s directing displays an almost rebellious lack of visual language. The film’s visuals are bland where it takes sudden visual changes and flat where it should look lively. Due to the film’s Italian origins and monastery setting, comparisons to the Giallo genre are inevitable. However, the film does not recognize or expertly exemplify the bold and obvious visual expressions that distinguish the Giallo genre.
Intentionally, the story takes place in an ambiguous setting for a while. The exact year or decade is still unknown. However, the entire film feels like it is set in the past. Cecelia’s destination is in the remote Italian countryside which underscores the film’s disconnect from any particular era. A frightening image of the dangers that lie behind the walls of what appears to be a religious place is presented in the opening scene. Using a well-known horror film cliche, the prologue shows a group of terrifying crimson-robed figures brutally murdering a young woman. Committed by men who have sworn allegiance to a higher power, the heinous deed shrouds the monastery in mystery and raises uncomfortable questions about the monastery’s true purpose.
Mysteries
When Cecelia arrives at the convent, things start to get interesting. It raises the question of whether she accidentally replaced the poor young woman from the prologue. An unsettling question is left for the audience to consider as the story progresses: will Cecelia meet an end as horrific as her predecessor? When Cecelia first arrives at the convent, she is flooded with visions. The strange people encountered there add to the unsettling learning. In addition to novice nuns, the monastery also accommodates experienced nuns who are nearing the end of their lives. Such separate environments serve as shelters and training grounds.
Visibly, Andrew Lobel’s script centers on the contrast between two realities: the impending death of the old nuns and the fresh vitality of the new nuns in the religious environment. Unfortunately, the potentially deep themes are not explored. It’s important to fully embrace and develop the underlying ideas and central themes in such a film. Rather than letting it fade into obscurity, make the film resonate like the great films that affect it with tireless clarity. When Cecilia is shocked to learn how she got pregnant, Immaculate really takes off. Given her resolute dedication to a life of chastity and lack of romantic involvement, the revelation was particularly puzzling. Is it a sensational example of divine intervention, a conception as miraculous as that of the Virgin Mary or does it have a darker background?
Themes Left Untouched
Alas, director Michael Mohan and writer Andrew Lobel fail to provide a truly satisfying conclusion to the central mystery. There are many interesting themes in the film waiting to be explored. It includes the complicated relationship between faith and fanaticism, the exploitation of weak people in religious contexts, and the possibility of scientific manipulation considered a religious miracle. However, Immaculate appears uninterested in exploring its rich topical possibilities almost by design. Instead, they fail to create a truly unsettling atmosphere or persistent sense of dread and instead rely heavily on cheap jump scares as a crutch. Controlling the camera as her character moves through the story, Sweeney appears charming throughout the story. Even with the film’s overall low quality, she actively broadened her scope as an actress gaining increasing recognition. Her early credits show an impressive range including such diverse roles as the romantic comedy Anyone but You, the psychological thriller Reality, and now the buzzy release. Sweeney is admirable for her commitment to delving into difficult roles.
Climactic Ending
The main characters in the film explore very unsettling territory. The story suddenly takes a drastic turn and thrusts it into an exciting yet unsettling situation. Such a crescendo reaches its peak in a truly extraordinary epilogue. Not only is the film’s resolution satisfying, but it is also a strong scene that sticks in our memories. The powerful final scene has the power to drastically change the way the audience views the entire film. The great ending can improve the whole film regardless of the previous storyline having some flaws. It overcomes all the shortcomings of the previous installments to leave a strong and lasting impression on the viewer that lasts long after the credits roll.
Bibliography
- Dargis, M. (2024). ‘Immaculate’ Review: Sydney Sweeney Is Wide-Eyed but Sly. The New York Times.
- Lattanzio, R. (2024). ‘Immaculate’: Inside the Film’s Gnarly Ending and Bloody Sydney Sweeney’s Scream Into the Void. IndieWire.
- Simonpillai, R. (2024). Immaculate review – Sydney Sweeney plays scream queen in gory nun horror. The Guardian.