“Immaculate”: Sydney Sweeney’s role in a spine-tingling horror movie

New Delhi: “Immaculate” released in theatres in India on 19^th July 2024, directed by Michael Mohan and penned by Andrew Lobel. Sydney Sweeney, who also served as a producer, leads the cast alongside Álvaro Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giorgio Colangeli, and Simona Tabasco. The movie is now available for streaming on Prime Video. Produced under Neon production, the film made a milestone as Neon’s highest-grossing opening day, earning over $5 million on its release and pulling in over $27 million worldwide.

Plot

The story focuses on a youthful beginner named Sister Cecilia (played by Sydney Sweeney), who is asked to stay at a charming Italian convent, only to gradually discover the horrifying hidden truths it holds. Sister Cecilia, who survived a near-death experience, joins the same convent and befriends Sister Gwen, noticing strange occurrences like cross-shaped scars on an elder nun’s feet. Cecilia becomes mysteriously pregnant, leading the convent to treat her as the next Virgin Mary, while a jealous Sister Isabelle tries to drown her. Discovering sinister secrets about the convent and Father Tedeschi’s genetic experiments, Cecilia tries to escape. Facing grave danger, Cecilia must fight for her life and uncover the true purpose behind the convent’s dark practices, leading to a shocking revelation that changes everything.

Review and Critics

The film has extravagant cinematography mastered by Elisha Christian and editing by Christian Masini created a sense of dread and anticipation among the viewers. Along with Sweeney’s performance, the visual details enhanced the film’s eerie atmosphere and reinforced horror elements without solely relying on jump scares. The well-written script gave the audience an understanding of the storyline.

The movie received a 70% positive rating from 196 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 6.3/10, praised for its concept but criticized for its execution, though Sydney Sweeney’s performance stood out. Metacritic gave it a score of 57 out of 100 based on 39 critics, indicating mixed or average reviews. Audience feedback was lukewarm, with a “C” grade from CinemaScore and a 52% overall positive score on PostTrak, where only 30% would definitely recommend the film.

The theatrical run of “Immaculate” demonstrates the strong impact of Sydney Sweeney’s star quality and the film’s gripping plot, making it essential viewing for horror enthusiasts.