‘Immaculate’ Review – Sydney Sweeney Shines In A Horror Film With One Hell Of An Ending

It would be easy to forgive if audiences thought that Immaculate was set to be a throwaway horror film released in March to capitalize on the growing popularity of its star, Sydney Sweeney, before looking deeper into its history and creative team. The film is being released by Neon, an independent film production and distribution company that would be in good company with A24. Next, this isn’t a project that Sweeney just fell into. The actress came across the screenplay ten years ago and fell in love with its concept but the project never got off the ground. As her clout grew considerably in recent years thanks to roles on TV courtesy of White Lotus and Euphoria, the actress began transitioning into a film career while also flexing her muscles as a producer.

Anyone But You, which has become the biggest rom-com hit in recent years, starred and was executive-produced by Sweeney. This is someone making career choices beyond taking thankless roles and that led her back to Immaculate. Sweeney bought the rights to the screenplay, advanced the age of the central character to match her own (she’s now 26), and hired frequent collaborator Michael Mohan to direct. The end result is a horror film clearly made with passion from all involved and one that pays homage to the greats of the past through its palpable visual style and structure. However, its most important asset is Sweeney herself, proving once again that she’s an actress to watch as she brings this film to a gut-wrenching conclusion.

Sweeney takes on the role of Cecilia, a young woman who has freshly arrived at a convent that sits in the Italian countryside. As Cecilia becomes accustomed to their ways, the beauty of the Italian setting gives way to strange occurrences that indicate the young nun may have become host to something much more frightening than anything she bargained for.

The less known about Immaculate the better. There are surprises to be hand, even if at first it feels like it’s going to play like something all too familiar. Mohan shines here as a director, crafting an involving atmosphere that is aided by the sublime cinematography of Elisha Christian and a chilling score by composer Will Bates. All of it is a perfect marriage that lets the viewer know there is something truly eerie happening around Cecilia and it elevates gradually without playing its complete hand too soon.

Horror films do get negatively criticized for utilizing too many jump scares, particularly when they aren’t executed well and used to cover up an atmosphere that elicits yawns more than thrills. Immaculate has a few signature jumps for the audience but they aren’t used as a crutch. This is Mohan’s first foray into true horror and he handles the task like a pro, toying with the audience as he mixes escalating tension with genuine scares. There are bumps and jumps in the night but it’s not the only trick up his sleeve. Given the film’s relatively slim runtime of just 89 minutes, Mohan makes sure to take in every second of it to star as a chilling slow crawl before building to a third act that is bound to have everyone talking who sees it.

The first half of the film is wonderfully tense and disturbing in its own right but the build-up to its third act which goes full throttle is not going to be for the faint of heart. If you’re a true horror fan, you’re bound to get immense joy from the outcome but if you’re a casual viewer of the genre, it might cause you to fall into great distress. Through it all is Sweeney, who hits a crescendo during these moments that are visceral and truly powerful. A lot of it works because of what you’re seeing and Sweeney’s committed performance as all hell begins to break loose.

This really comes down to a performer who is comfortable with her director. This is the third collaboration between Sweeney and Mohan following the Netflix series Everything Sucks! and The Voyeurs and it’s obvious why she wanted him specifically for this project. Beyond the director having a great visual eye for an immersive atmosphere, it’s obvious that she trusted him to pull the best out of her during some truly crucial moments. As someone who has watched Sweeney go through the emotional battlefield on HBO’s Euphoria, particularly during its second season, Immaculate proves to be her best performance as an actress to date.

With nods to Rosemary’s Baby, What Have You Done to Solange, 1981’s Possession, The Exorcist, and many horror mainstays, Immaculate still forges its own path without simply being a greatest hits package. For those looking for more than a gradual atmospheric build, there are more gruesome pleasures involving a decent body count, broken limbs, and a burial that should play on anyone’s fear of claustrophobia. Whatever you desire, it’s best to go into the film dark so that you may come out of it completely stunned.

Immaculate debuts exclusively in theaters on March 22, 2024, courtesy of NEON.