In my experience with horror movies, a little controversy is necessarily a bad thing. So when the religious-themed movie “Immaculate,” starring Syndey Sweeney, hit theaters in March to a cloud of outrage, my interest only intensified.  

After watching “Immaculate” for myself, I came away truly inspired by the film’s sinister atmosphere, its lead performance, and its bat-like climax. However, the Michael Mohan-directed film was also a victim of a poor release schedule. A few weeks later, “The First Omen” hits theaters, with a terrifying plot.  

On the strength of “The Omen” logo, “Immaculate” flopped and may not enjoy its breakout moment for as long as it could have. It’s a real shame, because it’s an incredible movie, in my opinion. Luckily, it just landed on Hulu, giving this spooky horror movie full of twists and turns a momentary chance to delight fans of the genre.  

So if you’re looking for gripping horror to enjoy over the weekend, here’s why you stream “Immaculate,” but don’t say I didn’t warn you about its more debatable aspects.

In “Immaculate,” Sydney Sweeney plays Cecilia, a young American who turns to Christianity after a near-death experience as a child. Traveling to Italy to take her vows as a nun and dedicate her life to him, Cecilia joins a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside.  

Adjusting to her new life, Cecilia is first welcomed and believes she has discovered the position she really belongs to. But this feeling of peace does not last long. Soon, Cecilia begins to notice strange quirks in the convent, such as many older sisters having cross-shaped scars on the soles of their feet, and then the terrifying nightmares begin. . .

Revealing more would be a huge spoiler, so I wouldn’t possibly delve into the twisted internet of horror that much of “Immaculate” contains, but let’s just say things get really dark and the final moments could churn your belly.  

It’s really hard to understand why “Immaculate” generated controversy upon its release. The horror film has overtly devout themes and twists certain elements of Christianity to tell a pulpy horror story full of scares and creepy screams.  

As was probably to be expected, there was a lot of outrage among Christian and conservative groups, and the ending (which I probably wouldn’t reveal here) sparked specific anger. Publications like The Hollywood Reporter blatantly called the film a “nunsploitation” movie.  

Instead of apologizing for the offense caused, distributor Neon went completely off the rails by releasing a series of posters containing quotes from disgruntled viewers, adding one that said the film “spits in the face of all that is holy. ” A video on social media shows Sydney Sweeny reading an excerpt from the Bible also posted, as well as a YouTube video showing genuine pastors watching excerpts from “Immaculate” in a church setting.  

“Immaculate” is an exciting journey and a must-see for enthusiasts of the genre. Some of the scares are predictable and its similarity to “The First Omen” might put off some viewers, however, Sydney Sweeney has the lead role and the film fully commits to its dark concept.  

If you’re looking for a fast-moving horror movie (it has a very measly 89-minute length) that will keep you on the edge of your seat at all times, “Immaculate” is definitely worth checking out. Just make sure you have cuidado. de the most debatable elements of the movie before adding it to your Hulu watchlist.

“Immaculate” is now streaming on Hulu, but if you’re not sure if this horror is to your liking, we also have a best videos consultant on Hulu for a few options.  

Rory is the entertainment editor of Tom’s Guide, founded in the United Kingdom. He covers a wide diversity of topics but focuses especially on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the newest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing compelling versions of new game material, TV shows, and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting a little too emotionally invested in his favorite football team.  

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