Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Alvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi, Giuseppe Lo Piccolo
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
Runtime: 89 mins. Reviewed in Apr 2024
Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone msc
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Cecilia, a woman of devout faith, is warmly welcomed to the picture-perfect Italian countryside where she is offered a new role at an illustrious convent. But it becomes clear to Cecilia that her new home harbours dark and horrifying secrets.
When Christians hear the word ‘Immaculate’, they usually think of the Virgin Mary, perhaps remembering the Immaculate Conception or the Virginal Conception of Jesus – many confusing the two. And the connection for this film, Immaculate? Many Catholics would be interested in knowing what the connections in this film are, especially when they discover that it is, basically, a horror film.
This review will first make a comment on how it works as a horror film as such – which is how it will be viewed by most audiences around the world, audiences not familiar with the Catholic themes, viewing it without much awareness of the references. In fact, looking at the initial responses by bloggers and commentators on the Internet Movie Database, most do not mention the religious themes at all – for them it is another horror film.
As a horror film it is well made, and within its genre and conventions, above average. There is an initial shock of a character buried alive, then we follow the central character Cecilia. There is her background, her arrival in Italy, a sense of foreboding, strange characters, dreams, her becoming a victim, pregnant, the mystery behind the pregnancy, her revolt, increasing blood, shocks, grim deaths.
As for the Catholic atmosphere of the film. One is tempted to state ‘over-the-top’ or, even ‘bonkers’. The background of Cecilia (Sweeney) is well established. There is a childhood accident in the ice, her being saved, her feeling of God choosing her for a vocation, the invitation to travel to Italy to a convent where she makes her vows and works with other young nuns assisting in aged care for the elderly sisters.
There are numerous odd characters, a large number of elderly sisters in care, some bizarre behaviour, rather sect-like community with its own resident cardinal, priest chaplain and deacon. But, halfway through, the plot has an unexpected revelation that moves it out of what seems to be supernatural invention to the reality of bizarre science fiction – a convent variation on the Rosemary’s Baby theme.
For interested Catholic audiences, the plot twist demands attention and leads into the realm of religious fanaticism and expectations of the Second Coming. These themes will find their place (and analysis) in future articles and books on films with Catholic themes. A movie for horror fans, but probably not for those who do not like films they see as exploiting the Church. But, despite the bonkers, it does have interesting religious themes.
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