'Immaculate' film review: Sydney Sweeney can't salvage shallow string of jump scares

Starting with its lean runtime and continuing through its sparse (if visceral) scares and unexplored themes, 'Immaculate' (now playing in theaters) just falls short of memorable horror in almost every way.

In short: Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney), a young woman of devout faith, is invited to reside at a picturesque Italian convent, but slowly realizes the terrifying secrets it harbors.

For a movie under 90 minutes, 'Immaculate' slowly takes its time before the actual plot starts to take focus. The first half hour is solely focused on setting the film's tone: disturbing, ritualistic dogma set against a romantic Italian backdrop. After an energized introductory scene immediately establishes the danger present at the remote convent, the movie then methodically and patiently works on setting up the danger around Cecilia. A movie this short - it doesn't crack the 90 minute line even with credits - shouldn't take so long to take shape.

Sweeney is well cast as the devout but clear-eyed young American nun plucked from the middle of America and thrust into an unholy situation in a completely foreign land. She radiates earnest, guileless piety as if Cecilia personifies the idealized Catholic nun. But as 'Immaculate' starts to spiral into an increasingly dark horror flick, Sweeney effortlessly finds a plucky strength within Cecilia. If only 'Immaculate' was a little more character driven, then the film could have focused on its obvious strength: Sydney Sweeney. The most exciting moments are when Cecilia imposes her will against the plans of those around her - but this happens too rarely because 'Immaculate' is a series of plot-driven events happening to Cecilia.

The missed opportunity of 'Immaculate' is the religious horror flicks elects the well-worn route of "final girl surrounded by monsters" plot - which feels shallow given the intriguing themes of man's machinations and God's will. The script intentionally allows the antagonists to remark how their actions are "God's will" - but the film makes virtually no effort to contemplate the obvious gap between divine will and man's plan. And, perhaps most disappointingly, the film makes little to no effort in finding Cecilia's place in the evil scheme all around her - she has little agency other than the basic survival instinct.

For what it's worth, 'Immaculate' is very effective when Cecilia suffers - but this limits the flick to purely sadistic entertainment. Yet, as the film is clearly content just being a lean and bloody horror flick, 'Immaculate' only chooses to move the emotional needle by inflicting pain onto Cecilia. Despite burning tons of calories on establishing a menacing, overbearing atmosphere at the convent, 'Immaculate' leans too much on jump scares and creepy, out-of-focus visuals just at the periphery of the frame to rattle the audience.

Final verdict: 'Immaculate' brings nunsploitation to the 2020s with a meager string of jump scares that is harrowing mostly because of the state of its protagonist - yet weirdly and disappointingly quite shallow for a plot that combines science, religious dogma and hubris.

Score: 2.5/5

'Immaculate' is now playing in theaters nationwide. This psychological horror has a runtime of 89 minutes and is rated R for strong and bloody violent content, grisly images, nudity and some language.