Immaculate: Mark Kermode’s horror movie review (video).
When you thought you’d seen it all in horror, says our man of many movies, Mark Kermode, along comes Immaculate, a film that dares to blend sanctity with scares and leaves you wondering whether you should be crossing yourself or covering your eyes. Directed by Michael Mohan and brought to eerie life by a cast led by the ever-impressive Sydney Sweeney, this film takes us on a holy rollercoaster ride through a convent with more secrets than the Vatican archives.
Sister Cecilia, portrayed by Sweeney with an innocence that’s about to be thoroughly corrupted, believes she’s found her calling at a postcard-perfect Italian convent. Little does she know, she’s stepped into a divine conspiracy that could give Dan Brown night sweats. The tranquil setting quickly spirals into a tableau of terror that has Cecilia—and the audience—questioning their faith in “good old religious hospitality.”
Enter Father Sal Tedeschi, played with sinister charm by Álvaro Morte. He’s no ordinary priest but a geneticist turned God’s servant, with ambitions that blur the line between sacred and profane. The film doesn’t skimp on the supporting cast either, each member more dubious than the last, from the clairvoyant with crucifix scars to a cardinal with more skeletons in his closet than a catacomb tour guide.
The plot thickens quicker than communion wine at a sinner’s Sunday, with Cecilia’s miraculous pregnancy sparking divine dilemmas and demonic danger. As she navigates this unholy mess, we’re treated to a smorgasbord of horror staples: forbidden labs, ghastly experiments, and enough gothic ambiance to make Edgar Allan Poe crack a smile.
But it’s not all doom and gloom—well, actually, it is, but with such stylish execution that you can’t help but appreciate the artistry amid the anarchy. The film’s climax, a cataclysmic convergence of faith, science, and survival, has Cecilia brandishing a crucifixion nail with more gusto than a televangelist on a fundraising spree.
While Immaculate might not be the second coming of horror, it delivers enough chills, thrills, and ecclesiastical intrigue to make you eye your local convent with suspicion. Sydney Sweeney proves she can carry a film as easily as a demonic fetus, and the ending leaves you with more questions than Sunday school. So, should you watch it? If the idea of mixing nuns, nails, and neonatal nightmares tickles your fancy, then confess your curiosity and give it a go. Just remember, when the lights go out and the screams start, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Amen, pass the popcorn.
