Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) heads to Italy to join a convent that looks after sick nuns. But shortly after she becomes pregnant. An immaculate conception? Or is something more sinister at hand? 

Cecilia is a young woman who has had a near death experience and feels called to God. He saved her for a reason but she has not yet found it. When her church in the US closes due to lack of a flock she heads to Italy to look for her calling. With little of the language at her grasp she speaks mostly to two other young nuns. Isabelle (Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi) seems to dislike her whilst in Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli) she finds a kindred spirit. But both begin to behave differently when she becomes pregnant. As the rest of the convent begin to worship her, Cecilia starts to investigate deeper into what is happening to her. 

Immaculate may have few new ideas in the horror genre but what it chooses to do it does almost flawlessly. A convent out in the middle of nowhere that requires candle light to see results in many shadows and dark corners. Its age means that every door and floorboard creaks ominously. Whilst the Catholic Church and its ceremonies and rituals are always ripe for horror films about the devil. The obvious touch point here is Rosemary’s baby but Immaculate does manage to slip the confines of that comparison as it moves into its final third. It is certainly one of the more brutally graphic horror movies you will see earning its 18 certificate and then some. 

Sydney Sweeney is excellent as the naive but determined protagonist. After a romantic comedy (Anyone But You) and a superhero film (Madame Web) already this year she really is showing off her range with one particular scene showing her scream queen credentials. 

Most importantly for a horror film it lands the ending and you should feel satisfied that Immaculate is anything but pure.