“Immaculate” Review

Sydney Sweeney leaves no stone unturned in this religious bloodbath.

⭐⭐⭐

Does the end justify the means?

Director Michael Mohan teams back up with Sydney Sweeney(Previously working together in 2021’s “The Voyeurs”) in a relatively slow burn horror film, that will be heavily divisive due to it’s strong religious(and anti religious) themes. Immaculate faces some pacing issues toward the beginning of the film as we are introduced to Sister Cecilia, played by Sydney Sweeney - settling into her new convent whom she's moved across the country for.

More often than not, the introduction of her character is ineffective in driving any interest towards who she is, and what's to come. It can be said however, that the first half of this film is held up surprisingly well with some original scares and gore that help to maintain a level of intensity as the film builds towards its climax.

A shroud of mystery is kept, as dark figures are alluded to, and some odd things begin to take place in this not so ordinary new home of hers.

Finally, the climax is where this film discovers it’s saving grace. Sister Cecilia, having realised this convent is the last place she'd want to be, has no trouble getting her hands dirty to escape the walls that confine her. No matter how gruesome it may get, Cecilia is willing to do whatever it takes to survive, resulting in an iconic ending that will be spoken about by horror fans for years to come. It is here that Sydney's performance is at its peak, delivering a performance that has the potential to cement her name in the horror genre. Overall, this film did feel partially saved by its ending. Enough so that we left the cinema feeling glad we went.