In the world of filmmaking, miracles are not often encountered, but Michael Mohan’s rewrite of the ending for “The Immaculate” was undeniably one such moment. The director’s vision and Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance transformed a simple script into a visceral, emotional rollercoaster that left audiences breathless.
In 2024’s movie “Immaculate,” directed by Michael Mohan, Sydney Sweeney excelled in the religious horror genre and left audiences shuddering with an unsettling finale. Taking charge as both lead actress and producer, Sweeney swaps the steamy atmosphere of high school from her series “Euphoria” for a strict convent filled with holier-than-thou nuns. In this film, she portrays Sister Cecilia, a newcomer to an Italian convent who aims to alleviate the agony of dying nuns. However, as events unfold, she comes to fear that her experience might be even worse than death when she inexplicably becomes pregnant under seemingly miraculous circumstances.
In the convent, where she was praised and guarded, but ultimately confined, Cecilia uncovers the sinister measures taken to safeguard her child and the harsh tasks she must endure to break free and above all, maintain her autonomy, which this corrupt group is trying to seize. The movie’s final act offers a fearless critique, not only through her efforts to evade her captors but also via the heart-wrenching climax that could make viewers turn away. Moreover, amidst the violence constructed from blood, sweat, and strategically placed stones, “Immaculate” suggests a potential sequel or even an entire trilogy thanks to a weapon Cecilia uses to assert her power.
Immaculate and its unspeakable demands and control of women
In contrast to Sydney Sweeney’s portrayal of a divine encounter in “The First Omen’s” contemporaneous ‘nunsploitation’ film, “Immaculate” distinguishes itself by delivering a more resonant message about women’s rights. The harrowing ordeals suffered by three characters, leaving one miraculously alive, serve to highlight the film’s powerful stance on this crucial issue. While “The First Omen” prequel effectively generates an unsettling atmosphere through its visually striking scenes and reverent references, “Immaculate” stands out as a unique voice in the conversation about women’s autonomy.
In the film, if the convent symbolizes the contemporary world and its effects on women within it, then characters like Cecilia, Sister Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli), and Sister Isabelle (Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi) each depict diverse responses to these influences by the story’s end. Sister Isabelle is unable to fulfill the obligations set upon her as a vessel for the Messiah, leading to her expulsion; when Sister Gwen attempts to challenge the atrocities unfolding, she is cruelly suppressed. Both women pay a heavy price for their actions, leaving only Cecilia standing – not just as the final protagonist but also the sole one who manages to safeguard herself. To start with, the trio aren’t particularly close, but this distance amplifies Cecilia’s narrative, making her struggle against the impending danger and her faith’s upcoming tests feel even more solitary and daunting.
Religion turns to science to create its miracle
At a certain point, Gwen tells Cecilia, “Life can be harsh, and it’s men who bear the burden of responsibility.” Tragically, as we later uncover, men do play a pivotal role in the enigma surrounding Cecilia’s supposed immaculate conception. In an attempt to break free from the confines of the convent, Cecilia simulates a miscarriage. However, when she fails to escape, Father Sal Tedeschi (Álvaro Morte) discloses the truth to her. He explains that it was not divine intervention but scientific knowledge – specifically, DNA extracted from a relic associated with Christ’s crucifixion – that led to her unique condition. The former geneticist turned holy man had been attempting to recreate the Second Coming using his expertise in genetics.
Unfortunately, like many portrayed mad scientists in stories, Tedeschi displays his past failures – deformed fetuses – throughout his lab, causing Cecilia great distress. This grim display adds another layer of criticism against the religious establishment’s control over women’s bodies. Moreover, it emphasizes that Cecilia is seen merely as a vessel for reproduction, and her branding on the foot further objectifies her, much like livestock bred for breeding purposes. However, in this moment, our unique warrior nun makes one final desperate attempt to break free and reclaim her identity for herself.
Sydney Sweeney took a dedicated stab for Cecilia’s revenge
In less frequent instances, we might refer to someone as a strong-willed woman, but that’s exactly what Sister Cecilia becomes during her second attempt to leave the convent. She boldly confronts and overpowers anyone who stands in her way, from the Mother Superior to the Cardinal. After managing to free herself, she sets fire to Father Tedeschi’s lab, burning him and his work in the process. This triggers a fierce rematch, where the severely injured Tedeschi tries to forcibly remove Cecilia’s unborn child using a scalpel, while stumbling around in the dark catacombs. It’s during this confrontation that our hero fights back mercilessly, impaling him with the Holy Relic, which proved to be quite an intense scene for the nun as she had to act out the nail-stabbing part.
According to Michael Mohan’s account to IndieWire, during filming, actress Sweeney had an unexpected sight of fake blood which she found uncomfortable. However, despite her reservations, she was directed by the director to continue shooting, with him saying “Keep shooting, Mike. Keep shooting until you get this right.” Eventually, on the third take, they managed to capture what was needed, although it’s clear from Sweeney’s voice that the scene was painful for her. Michael Mohan admitted that directing the blood-filled sequence was challenging, but he emphasized that it was more difficult for Sweeney than for him.
Michael Mohan’s rewritten ending was a one-and-done miracle
Despite Tedeschi’s endeavors being completely destroyed, Cecilia preserves its essence and it’s nearly ready to emerge into the world. After escaping the convent, she is compelled to give birth under harrowing circumstances, portrayed as a single, continuous shot that spans approximately five minutes. The intense close-up of Sydney Sweeney’s face depicts a cry of pain, fury, and liberation from a nightmare she narrowly escaped. Coated in blood, she cuts the umbilical cord with her teeth (a blend of pastry and food coloring, as shared by Mohan with IndieWire) and crushes the creature with a rock in the film’s concluding scenes.
Michael Mohan, who collaborated with Sweeney again following their work on “The Voyeurs”, claims responsibility for a powerful sequence in the film, as he admitted to rewriting the ending. He stated that the final version we see was the initial attempt by everyone involved. Upon reading the original script, he realized it didn’t have this conclusion, and upon closing the script, he had a clear vision of what it needed to transform into. This scene is his most significant directorial achievement because it turned out exactly as he had envisioned it. Remarkably, achieving this didn’t require much effort. As Mohan explained, “What you see in the movie is take one. We attempted a few other takes, but when we watched that first take, we realized she had perfectly captured it.
What did the baby look like and is a second coming due in the Immaculate story?
Unquestionably, Sydney Sweeney’s acting significantly propels the movie towards its conclusion, as director Michael Mohan skillfully avoids depicting the life she takes, which fortunately remains off-screen. He admitted, “The intention was never to show it.” The creature’s death throes off-camera, he added, would be far more terrifying than anything he could display. With that ominous note, the movie ends abruptly with a cut to black, marking the end of Cecilia’s storyline. However, Michael Mohan hinted at potential continuation of stories from the “Immaculate” universe, all because of one crucial factor – the very nail that set Cecilia on this harrowing journey initially.
In a conversation on the “ReelBlend” podcast (as reported by CinemaBlend), Mohan speculated that one rusty nail hidden in Father Tedeschi’s neck could be accompanied by two more. He asked, “Are there possibly two more nails out there and two more labs somewhere in the world that [Cecilia] must confront?” So far, no official announcement has been made about another film, but given the movie’s impressive $28 million box office earnings versus a budget of just $9 million, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to expect a sequel. If there is a follow-up, it might find Cecilia embarking on a fresh crusade, seeking out and dismantling more corrupt religious organizations who made the mistake of challenging the wrong nun.
To discover more details about the main actress from “Immaculate”, take a look at these 12 intriguing facts hidden about Sydney Sweeney.
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2024-09-15 21:00