Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Immaculate 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"If this is not the will of God, why does God not stop us?"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 11, 2025

Immaculate was a divisive film when it came to theaters in early 2024. Our own Brian Orndorf didn't enjoy the film much at all, whereas I found it riveting. Original? Not entirely, nor was it all that scary. It was unnerving, though, right to the bitter, bloody end. Sydney Sweeney (somehow the subject of continuous news articles about her family's political beliefs and the size of her, erm, assets rather than the scope of her talent as an actress) is outstanding, delivering a quiet, thoughtful performance that slowly unravels into pure, unadulterated madness. (Even if the slowburn horror thriller plays like a mash-up of a strange array of disparate movies.) The final five minutes of the film shows her to be one to watch, if that is she continues to select challenging projects that push her beyond appearances into meatier territory. After releasing a standard Blu-ray in June, Decal is finally bringing Immaculate to 4K UHD, and with a host of previously unreleased extras.

"I'm sure this must feel very romantic, but this is our life. And I promise you, work is hard, physically and emotionally. So if you're here to find yourself, there are easier ways. Tonight, you do not have to take your vows. You can still go back, and God will forgive you."

Cecilia (Sydney Sweeney) has been invited to move from Detroit to a remote convent in Italy by Father Sal (Alvaro Morte), provided an opportunity to take her final vows and join the sisterhood. The convent is devoted to the care of aging nuns, with Cecilia exposed to medical issues while making friends with Sister Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli), who offers the newcomer kindness and insight into the workings of the facility. While preparing to make her final commitment, Cecilia learns she’s pregnant, and Father Sal is greatly concerned about the situation, as the American is a virgin. Finding support from church leaders, Cecilia is urged to concentrate exclusively on the health of her unborn baby. However, curiosity can’t be denied, inspiring Cecilia to explore the building, making discoveries and witnessing horrors that add to her confusion, soon determined to find a way out of her situation.

Click here to read the rest of Brian Orndorf's review of the film, which he says "doesn't have many fresh concepts" but does "have blood and various grotesqueries... having some fun in the world of nunsploitation, merging Catholic oppression with something macabre brewing over the run time." He also differs from me when calling Immaculate "lethargic and unwilling to put in the work to really rile up viewers with its ideas on religious submission and perversion." But that's the thing that's so fantastic about cinema. One man's treasure, and all that jazz.

Immaculate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Immaculate's 2160p 4K video presentation features an exceedingly dark picture, but I vividly recall the same veil of shadow in the film's theatrical presentation. It certainly adds the desired mood to the film, and viewed in a properly lit environment (read "pitch black") it looks beautiful. But lights may make it difficult to see just how striking the image truly is. Colors are subdued but alternate between warm and wintry with ease. Primaries punctuate the darkness quite often, particularly in regards to blood, cardinal robes and candles, but the interiors of the compound are often so cloaked in shadow that visibility is next to nil. Delineation is problematic as a result and there is some crushing to contend with. Nothing too serious, mind you, but enough to make the visuals flatter than they're probably intended to be. Flesh tones are relatively lifelike, black levels are extremely deep, and contrast is decent (though I would've preferred a bump in vibrancy). Detail is excellent too, with clean edges and wonderfully resolved fine textures. Close-ups of Sweeney reveal pores, light arm and neck hairs, and small imperfections in the skin that simply would be wiped away in a lesser transfer. Moreover, the HDR enhancements lend more power to the palette than was previously available, making for an added bonus. As for other issues, there are none. Banding, blocking and errant noise are nowhere to be found, and grain, though faint, is filmic and consistent.

Immaculate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 4K edition of Immaculate features the same lossless track as its Blu-ray predecessor. Orndorf writes, "the 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix secures crisp dialogue exchanges, working with heavy accents at times. Emotional freakouts also remain balanced. Scoring cues are clear, with defined instrumentation as moods shift in the feature. Choral offerings are also sharp, pushing out into surrounds with other musical moments. Atmospherics detail room tones and group activity, also providing a sense of locations. Sound effects are appreciable, with the endeavor using a lot of aural events to conjure its fear factor. Low-end handles some weight with violent events."

Immaculate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary - with director Michael Mohan

• Sydney Sweeney Reads the Bible (HD, 3 minutes) - Gimmicky but amusing.

• Immaculate with Real Pastors (HD, 4 minutes) - Sweeney sits down with two squeamish female pastors to watch the film and share a quick chat. It's another gimmick, and one that's far less interesting than it could be.

• Interviews (HD, 34 minutes) - Three interviews featuring Mohan, Sweeney and actor Alvaro Morte.

• "Vow" Spot (HD, 1 minute)

• Trailer (HD, 2 minutes)

Immaculate 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Immaculate adds an odd dose of Jurassic Park to its injection of The Exorcist and The Omen, but if you can go with its more sci-fi leanings, there's enough here -- including Sydney Sweeney's performance -- to make it worth watching in the dark on a rainy night. Decal's 4K release offers solid video and audio, along with the commentary that was included on its Blu-ray and several new exclusive extras. I'd recommend the film, hesitantly, though I suspect many of my colleagues would warn you to run the other way.