by Nick Nitkowski

I didn’t know much about this film going in. I remember seeing one trailer for the film once and it was incredibly vague, which to me is a good thing when it comes to movies. So, because of that, I will be as vague as possible regarding the plot so that it can be an experience for you if you choose to see it.

The film stars Sidney Sweeney who plays a nun named Cecilia; an American nun newly transferred to a convent in Italy, but during her stay, she discovers that her new home is not what it seems. Any further explanation would dwell into spoiler territory.

Sweeney is easily the best thing in this movie. Up until recently, the only acting credit I remember her from was from the cinematic masterpiece known as “Madame Web.” In this film, while her performance doesn’t seem like much at the start, she really gives it her all once the plot starts to thicken. Her performance may not get any award recognition, but she was without a doubt the best. I’d say she’s definitely redeemed for “Madame Web” and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

Since I was going into the film mostly blind, I was worried that this was going to be just another “Conjuring” “The Nun” type of movie. Thankfully, this film does not have anything to do with demonic possessions nor does it have any supernatural elements involved. It is definitely a lot more grounded for the most part. Although, it is still perfectly capable of making anyone of religious faith uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, the film is far from perfect. For a film that’s only an hour and a half long, it does feel like it takes a while for the plot to kick in. The film was able to hold my attention once the movie started to gain traction, but the opening certainly felt a bit longer than it should have.

Another issue with the film I had was there were jump scares galore! This film is heavily reliant on jump scares. Especially towards the beginning of the movie. I believe jump scares can work sparingly in a movie like this, but when they happen all the time, it just becomes annoying, but with the film’s slow opening, it feels like the filmmakers needed the jump scares just to keep their audience awake long enough for the plot to kick in.

Overall, Immaculate was interesting enough even with me not knowing much about it going in. Any fans of horror/suspenseful movies are sure to find enjoyment out of this film. With great acting from Sidney Sweeney and the unsettling atmosphere. With the tone of the film, there’s definitely enjoyment to be had here, but with too many jump scares and a few pacing issues, this film is far from Immaculate.

3 Stars