Immaculate - Movie Review

Introduction

• Review week: multiple video reviews this week
• Previous reviews:
  • Monday: Love Lies Bleeding
  • Wednesday: Late Night with the Devil
• Today's review: Immaculate (highly requested)

Movie Overview

• Plot: An American nun joins a remote convent in Italy, discovers a sinister secret and horrors
• Distributor: Neon (also distributing 'Long Legs' and 'Cuckoo')
• Director: Michael Mohan
• Lead: Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney's Involvement

• Sydney Sweeney's doubts about her role as a nun
• Movie works within the plot: believable as a beginner nun
• Convent setting: young nuns taking care of elderly nuns
• Sydney Sweeney as producer: reworked the script, hired director, sold the movie to Neon

Movie Reception

• Polarizing reviews: many 5-star and 1-star reviews
• Personal view: did not love it but liked it, best horror movie of the year so far

Time Period and Setting

• Undefined time period, no modern technology
• Italian countryside convent provides a timeless atmosphere

Distinctive Features

• Dark and disturbing content (specific details in spoilers)
• Non-exorcism, grounded in reality approach

Criticisms

• Overuse of jump scares: unnecessary and clichéd
  • Examples: birds hitting the window
• Predictable storyline
• Dream sequences: overused and can be frustrating

Why It Was Liked

• Ending saved the movie; last scene was impactful
• Sydney Sweeney's performance elevated towards the end
• Emotional impact comparable to 'Hereditary'

Ending and Spoiler Discussion

• Focus on Immaculate Conception and pregnancy
  • Accurate depiction of pregnancy (tooth falling out, nails, etc.)
• Priest's disturbing attempts to impregnate nuns with Jesus’ supposed DNA
• Dark turn: Sydney escaping while in labor, giving birth and making a difficult decision for an unhealthy child
• Tasteful yet disturbing final scene

Final Thoughts

• Sydney Sweeney's performance in the last scene was exceptional
• Single take final scene: impressive execution
• Implications of the ending were surprising and emotionally impactful
• Enjoyed the experience although it was intense and disturbing

Upcoming Reviews

• April movies: Humane, Last Omen
• Not interested in reviewing 'Sting'

Conclusion

• Open to suggestions for future reviews
• Outro and farewell