The 2024 release, “Immaculate” centers around devout nun Cecilia, portrayed by Sydney Sweeney and her immaculate conception during her time at an Italian convent. Sweeney served as a main producer, script editor, and lead actress in one of the best performances of her career. 

Sweeney’s career took off during her time on HBO’s mega-hit “Euphoria” as Cassie Howard, a role that allowed her to consistently show off her skills as a on-cue crier. She continued her partnership with HBO with a role on season one of the streaming exclusive “The White Lotus”. 

“Euphoria’s” second season went consistently viral each Sunday, with most of the conversations surrounding Sweeney’s character of Cassie. 

“Immaculate” is Sweeney’s third theatrical starring role, following “Anyone But You” and the poorly received “Madame Web”. 

“Immaculate” relies nearly exclusively on Sweeney to carry each scene, at times relying only on her facial expressions to convey Cecilia’s doubts to the audience. A departure from her previous roles, “Immaculate” is devoid of any comedic concepts or action moments to support the actors. 

Sweeney highlights her range as an actress as the audience watches Cecilia’s transition from a trusting, devout nun to a woman held captive by her religion and the powers that be who surround her. 

The end of the film features an unforgettable scene that is sure to be mentioned throughout the course of Sweeney’s future career. Shot in one take, Sweeney lets out a series of blood-soaked, animalistic screams that are especially impressive coming out of a theater’s surround sound. 

Beyond Sweeney’s show stealing performance, she was also a major factor in the movie being made. Having auditioned with the original script when she was sixteen, Sweeney used her newfound fame to push the movie forward and alter the script to include relevant social commentary of modern society. 

“Immaculate” is a glaring reference to the eternally debated issue of abortion and makes a strong argument for a woman’s right to choose by using Cecilia’s unwanted pregnancy as the main horror element of the movie. 

One of the most compelling aspects of the film is the role that the men play within the convent. In a space made of primarily women, the two men in the convent maintain all of the power. 

The cardinal of the convent urges Sweeney’s character to kiss his ring during her vows, in an unsettling scene that comes early in the film and alludes to the abuse of power to come. The convent revolves around the cardinal despite being solely supported by the women who live and work within the community. 

Alvaro Morte of “Money Heist” portrays the central antagonist of Father Sal Tedeschi. Sweeney and Morte’s scenes together are consistently tense, with the Father presenting his power over Cecilia both within the hierarchy of the church and through the use of psychical strength. 

Sweeney’s push to include relevant issues within “Immaculate’s” script resulted in a horror movie that comments on abortion rights and the abuse of power by men within religion as well as in the science field. 

Sweeney partnered with director Michael Mohan, who she had previously worked with on the 2021 thriller “The Voyeurs”. Their existing working relationship allowed Sweeney the ability to communicate her wishes for her performance.

Mohan recalls Sweeney asking for her “Carrie” moment with the words, “At the end of this movie, I just want to be covered head to toe in blood.” A wish that was fulfilled in the harrowing final five minutes of the film. 

Horror movies have long been overlooked as one of the most effective and entertaining vehicles to present social commentary, and “Immaculate” succeeds in telling a story that is effectively scary in its imagery and real-life inspirations. 

The horror genre and Catholicism have been intertwined for decades. Horror as a concept could scarcely exist without the modern perception of the Devil and Catholic imagery. 

“The Exorcist” introduced audiences to the idea of demonic possession and priests stepping into the heroic role, with many films following this template to this day. 

“Immaculate” subverts the usual use of Catholicism in horror movies by making a critic of the abuse that women can suffer because of the archaic beliefs some powerful men hold and excuse through the use of religion. 

Sweeney’s dedication to seeing “Immaculate” succeed shows within her driven performance, and her experience within Hollywood as a woman undoubtedly lent itself to her believable execution.