Credit: Neon

The trick-or-treat greetings of the pumpkin-carving season are officially on the way, which means it’s about time Netflix subscribers start curating the spooky watchlist that’s meant to keep them company. Although a horror marathon might feel too early, the 2024 Sydney Sweeney horror movie Immaculate could be the perfect starting point.

The psychological horror movie, directed by Michael Mohan, hit Netflix’s shelves on August 13th and has since been making waves on the platform.

Immaculate stars Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia, who travels all the way from the United States to a remote, quaint convent in the Italian countryside that also happens to be a hospice for ageing nuns. Upon her arrival, she’s welcomed with warmth by Father Sal Tedeschi and the Mother Superior. However, soon after taking her final vows, she realises she’s pregnant, despite being a virgin.

As the church leadership hails her condition as an immaculate conception, seeing her as a modern-day Virgin Mary, fellow nuns turn hostile, giving rise to immense suspicion about the convent. The gritty psychological horror thriller follows Cecelia as she uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy brewing within the four walls, leading to a desperate attempt to escape and break free of the shackles.

Besides catering to the horror mood board of fans who have been waiting on Halloween with bated breath, Immaculate illuminates a side of Sweeney’s acting chops that fans won’t see in the romantic comedies or the steamy high school dramas.

Although much of the movie relies on familiar convent-horror jump scares, predictable genre setups, and red herrings, the final 15-20 minutes feature one of the most visceral single-take climaxes witnessed in recent mainstream horror. Of course, it comes with a bloody exterior that’s unbelievably gory and unsettling.

But beneath that disturbing skeleton, Immaculate takes special care to tackle themes of bodily autonomy and control, serving as a surprisingly witty piece of socio-political horror.

Additionally, the film has been made keeping the shrinking attention span of viewers in mind. Clocking in at a crisp 89 minutes, the Sydney Sweeney-starrer demands little time commitment, meaning Immaculate doesn’t overstay its welcome, making it perfect for casual and background viewing as well as serving as an easy watch when viewers seek a fast, high-intensity late-night film.

So, if you’ve yet to catch up with the gritty convent horror, Immaculate is currently streaming on Netflix to snatch away your good night’s sleep.