Immaculate had its premiere on March 12, 2024, at the SXSW festival and was released widely later in the month. The movie stars Sydney Sweeney, known from Euphoria, in the lead role. Michael Mohan, who directed The Voyeurs, is the film’s director.
Besides acting, Sweeney co-produced the film under her company, Fifty-Fifty Films, along with David Bernad, Jonathan Davino, Teddy Schwarzman, and Michael Heimler.
The screenplay, written by Andrew Lobel, was in development since 2014 but faced delays until late 2022. At that time, Sydney Sweeney joined the cast after obtaining the rights to Lobel’s script.
The film was shot in Rome, with scenes in the actual catacombs beneath the city. Principal photography took place at Villa Parisi, a location also used in other horror films like Hatchet for the Honeymoon and Blood for Dracula.
Following its theatrical release, Immaculate was compared to The First Omen due to its Italian setting and similar themes related to religion and female bodily autonomy. Director Michael Mohan raised Catholic, shared that he and his family stopped attending church after a pro-life sermon.
Despite the film’s reception among religious conservatives, Mohan emphasized that it was meant to spark conversation rather than deliver a social message, saying:
“I don’t think of it as a problem. I think it’s a necessary conversation, and if a film can inspire that conversation, then we’ve done our job. But I also want to be really clear: I want that conversation to be started by the audience. I don’t want them to look at us and go ‘Look at those social justice warriors!'”
When Will ‘Immaculate’ Be Available on VOD?
Currently, Immaculate is available for rent or purchase on platforms like Amazon Prime, Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu, and Google Play, with rentals starting at $5.99.
How Much Is ‘Immaculate’ to Buy?
The UHD version of Immaculate is priced at $9.99 on Amazon Prime, reduced from the original $14.99.
What Streaming Service Will ‘Immaculate’ Be On?
Immaculate began streaming on Hulu on August 16. Hulu subscriptions start at $7.99/month for the basic plan with ads, while an ad-free version is $17.99/month. There are also bundled plans including live TV and additional services like Disney+ and ESPN+.
Can You Watch ‘Immaculate’ Without Hulu?
Yes, Immaculate can be rented or purchased on major VOD platforms, with rentals at $4.99 and purchases starting at $9.99 on Amazon Prime. Other platforms like YouTube, Apple TV, and Google Play offer the film for $14.99.
What Is ‘Immaculate’ About?
Set in Italy, the film follows Sister Cecilia (played by Sweeney) who joins a remote convent and takes her final vows. She notices strange events, including a nun with burn marks on her feet, but continues her duties.
Her life changes dramatically when she experiences nightmares and discovers she is pregnant, despite being a virgin. The convent begins to treat her as a new “Virgin Mary,” and the unborn child is called a “blessing.”
Despite feeling uneasy, Cecilia seeks answers about why she survived a childhood drowning, suspecting a greater purpose. She faces hostility, possibly due to jealousy, and uncovers a darker truth about the convent. To survive, Cecilia must confront both mental and real demons.
