If you dug the psychosocial dysfunction of HBO’s “White Lotus” or the theocratic dystopia of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale,” then Immaculate, the new film from director Michael Mohan (The Voyeurs) should also find a comfy place within the twisted recesses of your sick soul.

The braintrust of those series, including Sydney Sweeney who stars again, collaborate for Immaculate, a film that weaponizes the toxicity and abuse of the Catholic Church and turns it into one of the best horror films of this young year. It’s equally horrific and unsettling to the core.

Sweeney is Sister Cecilia, a precocious American nun of devout faith who embarks on a new religious journey to a convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. It’s not long after taking her vows that the convent begins to reveal a dark and sinister side.

She endures nightmares about being buried alive, mysterious figures jumping to their death from the bell tower, and fending off nuns who pull the skin off her face. But it’s when she finds herself – a celibate nun – vomiting every morning that she realizes things aren’t what they seem. Is it the immaculate conception?

Immaculate isn't just another entry in the horror genre; it's a nightmarishly poignant portrayal of the exploitation and abuse lurking within sacred halls. Its key themes echo with an eerie resonance—the toxicity of sanctified abuse, the raw struggle for body autonomy, and a scathing critique of the "God" complex that so often leads to inexcusable transgressions.

Sweeney delivers a performance that traverses the polarities of the human psyche. In a compelling exhibition of transformation, Sweeney's character evolves from a symbol of untarnished piety to an unrestrained entity of vengeance. Every scene she’s in builds upon her chilling descent into a world where horror comes not from mythical CGI creatures, but from the depravity of human actions. This stark contrast elevates the terror to a plane that is gross, repulsive and undeniably singular.

Not to be outdone though, Simona Tabasco's portrayal of Sister Mary, though brief, burns with a blaze that highlights the narrative's emotional impact. Her authentic rendering of friendship in a miserable space gives the film its many fleeting moments of humanity amid the chaos and dread.

This is a film that masterfully taps into the primal fears that prowl around in our collective subconscious—not through extravagant effects or otherworldly creatures, but through the nastiness of reality. The terror in Immaculate comes from the mind's own horror; intimate, but always there. Scenes of merciless body horror, eerie burials alive, and the claustrophobic darkness of convent catacombs unfold onscreen with a macabre artistry—from disgust to bone-deep terror. Mohan’s haunting storytelling – from the pages of Andre Nobel’s first feature script – leaves us beautifully traumatized. It’s a genuine fright fest anchored in formidable truths.

The film forces us to confront our own perceptions of sanctity and sacrilege while driving home the resounding message that real terror resides in the truths we refuse to witness. Immaculate asserts that the most harrowing monsters are born from the shadows of human transgression and not the abyss of fantasy. This thematic gravitas is punctuated by Sweeney’s bewitching final act, drenched in the veritable blood of revelation and catharsis.

Immaculate will linger in your memory as a macabre tapestry of the horrors that unfold behind closed chapel doors. It dares you to stare deeply into the depths of moral decay and emerge, if you can, unscathed. This master stroke of psychological and body horror is an absolute must-see for anyone brave enough to grapple with subjects as dark and deeply unsettling as those woven into this nightmarish masterpiece.

Home Video Distributor: Decal Releasing
Available on Blu-ray - June 11, 2024
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Video: AVC HD encode
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Neon's bloody psychological thriller, Immaculate, gets the hi-def home video treatment with a nice little single-disc blu-ray release from Decal Releasing.

The release features the film in a 1.85:1 AVC HD encode and a single bonus piece in the form of a commentary track with director Michael Mohan.

Everything comes packaged into a blue keep case housed in a cardboard slip cover with matching artwork.

Video

The 1.85:1 AVC HD encode is a very good one despite the high degree of difficulty brought about by the film's many dark scenes. We experienced no issues with black crush or banding and, in fact, were quite impressed with how well everything held up.

This is not a particularly beautiful film. Although many of the exterior scenes featuring the Italian countryside are eye-poppingly impressive, there's just not a lot to show off your system's features.

Details are always sharp and crisp which becomes especially appreciated in the details of the film's many elaborate costumes, gowns, and other religious iconography.

Audio

Available are an English language DTS HD Master Audio 5.1, and an English language Descriptive Audio 2.0 track.

Dialogue is handled nicely and is always crisp and clear. When this thing goes horror you'll have your socks blown off with the directionality of thumps, bumps, knocks, and screams that assault you from all sides. This was made for the 5.1 format. A Dolby Atmos track would have been a very nice addition, but the HD MA is more than up to the task to keep up.

Supplements:

Here's where this release falls short. Way short. While we appreciate the fact that the film's director sat down for a commentary track, that's all we get. Nothing else. Boo!

Commentary:

• Feature-length audio commentary track with director Michael Mohan

Special Features:

• None

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 89 mins
Director: Andrew Lobel
Writer: Michael Mohan
Cast: Sydney Sweeney; Álvaro Morte; Simona Tabasco
Genre: Horror
Tagline:
Memorable Movie Quote: "If it isn't God's will, why does he not stop us?"
Theatrical Distributor: Neon
Official Site:
Release Date: March 22, 2024
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: June 11, 2024
Synopsis: 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 harbors dark and horrifying secrets.