‘One of the Best Horror Films’: Sydney Sweeney’s Immaculate Brings Religious Terror to BBC iPlayer

A young nun discovers she is pregnant despite being a virgin, sinister figures stalk the corridors of her convent, and a supposed miracle begins to look like something far more horrifying. Sydney Sweeney’s 2024 horror film Immaculate is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer, giving viewers another chance to experience the unsettling story that has earned praise for its disturbing imagery and central performance.

Directed by Michael Mohan, the film combines religious horror, psychological tension and graphic violence as it follows a woman whose faith is tested by a series of increasingly terrifying events. Some viewers have described it as one of the best horror films they have seen, with Sweeney’s performance winning over even those who were initially sceptical of her acting.

A Nun’s Faith Turns Into a Living Nightmare

Sweeney plays Cecilia, a young American woman whose life takes a dramatic turn after a near-death experience. Having drowned in a frozen lake and been declared dead for seven minutes, she becomes convinced that God has spared her for a reason. That belief eventually leads her towards a life devoted to Christianity.

Her path takes her to a convent in the Italian countryside after Father Sal Tedeschi, played by Álvaro Morte, invites her to join the religious community. Initially, the convent appears to offer Cecilia a fresh start. But the welcoming atmosphere soon gives way to disturbing dreams, unsettling encounters and secrets that challenge everything she believes.

The situation becomes even more frightening when Cecilia discovers she is pregnant despite being a virgin. As she tries to understand what is happening to her, she begins to question whether the events surrounding her are truly miraculous or part of something much more sinister.

One particularly disturbing night, Cecilia hears a woman screaming inside the convent. When she investigates, she witnesses a hooded figure cutting out the woman’s tongue. The encounter raises frightening questions about the mysterious figures appearing in her nightmares — and whether the women living within the convent are in danger.

Viewers Praise Sweeney’s Performance

Although Immaculate features a cast that includes Morte, Benedetta Porcaroli, Dora Romano, Giorgio Colangeli and Simona Tabasco, much of the audience discussion has focused on Sweeney’s portrayal of Cecilia.

Several viewers have praised the actress for delivering a performance that goes beyond the image many associate with her previous work. One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer highlighted the film’s combination of faith, guilt and supernatural terror, saying that religious horror has a particular ability to linger with them.

Another viewer described the film as one of the best horror productions they had seen, praising its execution and saying the experience left them speechless.

Other reactions have been just as surprised. One viewer admitted they had not been particularly interested in Sweeney before watching the film, but said the story, her performance and the symbolism throughout the imagery exceeded their expectations.

Another fan suggested that the film demonstrated Sweeney’s acting ability, arguing that it allowed her to show more than the appearance for which she is often recognised.

The praise is not universal, but the strength of Sweeney’s central performance has remained one of the film’s most frequently discussed elements. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus also singled out her work as a major strength of the religiously themed horror film.

Comparisons With The First Omen

One criticism surrounding Immaculate is its resemblance to The First Omen, another religious horror film released in 2024. Both films use religious settings to explore disturbing events involving women’s bodies and reproductive autonomy.

The similarities have prompted comparisons between the two stories, although some horror fans are happy to enjoy both films for their own approaches to the genre.

In Immaculate, the convent’s seemingly sacred surroundings become part of the terror, with the contrast between religious devotion and disturbing discoveries driving the story forward. Rather than offering Cecilia reassurance, her faith becomes entangled with questions about control, secrecy and the true intentions of those around her.

How to Watch Immaculate

Released in 2024, Immaculate is directed by Michael Mohan and written by Andrew Lobel. The film stars Sydney Sweeney as Sister Cecilia, alongside Álvaro Morte as Father Sal Tedeschi, Benedetta Porcaroli as Sister Gwen, Simona Tabasco as Sister Mary, Dora Romano as the Mother Superior and Giorgio Colangeli as Cardinal Franco Merola.

For viewers looking for a horror film built around religious imagery, psychological unease and graphic shocks, Immaculate offers a disturbing journey into a convent where the truth becomes increasingly difficult to comprehend.

The film is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer in the UK.