Immaculate infuses a basic plot with substance, finding relevant social commentary within the Catholic horror subgenre. Themes of cult mentality, playing god, manipulation, sanity, and martyrdom support the main thesis of women's autonomy. There's motivation, clues, intrigue, symbols, and payoff. Character development is thin but a satisfying arc is still managed. In fact, its ending finishes so strongly that it almost single-handedly makes up for any issues that preceded it. Similarly, the acting may come across as mechanical or confined in smaller moments, but the sheer intensity in bigger scenes is undeniable. Consequently, Immaculate leans more elevated than broad.
Immaculate teeters between stylish and slight. Its direction is moody, tense, and psychological. The imagery uses angles, lighting, depth, and spacing. Its editing adds inserts, patient pacing, dissolves, intercuts, a tight runtime, and spotty momentum. The sound has smash cuts, violence, emphasis, stings, risers, and muffling. Its music is fittingly choral, discordant, ominous, and juxtaposing. The production design offers desaturated colors, vintage locations, and religious iconography. Its cast is mostly replaceable, but Sweeney is key and oddly meta. The effects provide moderate makeup, gore, prosthetics, stunts, and CGI. Overall, Immaculate is proficient and briefly excellent.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 7/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 7.5/10
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