Atmospheric, eerie, and at times blatantly blasphemous, Michael Mohan’s latest picture Immaculate (2024) solidifies the return of the exploitative nunsploitation subgenre of horror. Although nunsploitation films have been sporadically released throughout the past few years with such pictures as The Nun (2018), Prey for the Devil (2022), and Consecration (2023), among others, the latest Sydney Sweeney-starring Immaculate elevates the religious horror subgenre by combining typical conventions seen in other similar films with modern-day sensibilities, particularly the topics of abortion and women’s reproductive rights which have dominated politics in a post-Roe v. Wade America. Despite Immaculate attempting to make a statement on behalf of the controversial issues, Immaculate as a horror picture is stellar and will no doubt be one of 2024’s best of the genre!
Finely crafted with immense precision and attention to detail by Michael Mohan, cinematographer Elisha Christian, and the rest of the crew, Immaculate harks back to low-budget yet highly artistic horror pictures of the 1970s, most notably the films of such auteurs as Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Jess Franco, Lucio Fulci, and even Roman Polanski. Set in an Italian convent where Sweeney’s character devout Sister Cecilia travels to with hopes of taking her vows, Immaculate features exquisitely lush cinematography evoking a nightmarish and Gothic tone that perfectly enhances the film’s sinister and paranoid ambiance as Cecilia uncovers a dark secret lurking within the walls of the convent. Mimicking the aesthetics of 1970s European art films, naturalistic lighting showcasing the picturesque Italian countryside, corridors, and rooms of the convent, and the hidden catacombs underneath accompany the impeccably constructed sets and costumes that leave the picture’s period feeling ambiguous. Although Immaculate has a swift runtime of 90 minutes, not a moment is wasted as each shot, filmed with elegance, has a purpose. The most visually appealing moment in Immaculate is perhaps Cecilia’s elevation to an almost Virgin Mary-esque persona after the revelation of her pregnancy. The craftsmanship displayed in Immaculate makes for a worthwhile and thrilling viewing experience that will have you on the edge of your seat!
A passion project for Sydney Sweeney, Immaculate does not necessarily break new ground for the horror genre but instead serves as a formidable throwback to nunsploitation pictures of yesteryear with a shocking ending that will linger long after the credits roll! A rising star, Sweeney provides a satisfactory performance for her first horror picture as the paranoia, angst, and distress she displays on the screen is believable. Lacking subtlety and not pulling any punches, Immaculate is a welcome addition to the reignited subgenre with plenty of scares and entertainment!
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