The #1 Movie On Hulu Is A Shocking Religious Thriller That’s “Grotesque in all the right ways”
Neon is on a roll this year and it all started with Immaculate, the religious horror film starring Sydney Sweeney that was caught in development hell for a decade. With a rigorous marketing campaign often focused on Sweeney herself, the film dominated at the box office (at least for an indie horror film) and got people talking. Now, Immaculate has hit Hulu and, unsurprisingly, it’s hit the number one spot on the streamer’s most-watched film of the week.
In Immaculate,
Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarks on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.
Sweeney has been involved with the project in some capacity since 2014 when she initially auditioned for the part. After the project sat in development hell for a few years, Sweeney bought the rights to the project and began developing it with collaborator Michael Mohan (who ultimately directed the film). She also produced the film under her production company Fifty-Fifty Films. Sweeney used this film to show she’s more than her character on Euphoria and that she believes in the power of indie film.
Brat, I mean, Neon summer
Neon’s marketing team played with the idea of nunsploitation and controversy, using Sweeney’s celebrity mixed with Christian imagery to create a provocative campaign unafraid to piss off the Church. Sweeney was filmed reading excerpts from the Bible in black and white outfits that appeared both virginal and lustful. She even watched Immaculate with a group of pastors. Plus, Neon ran an offer where tickets to see the film only cost $6.66 at participating theaters. They leaned into sacrilege and it certainly paid off.
Immaculate was the beginning of Neon’s new and expertly developed marketing campaigns that spread across the internet like wildfire. While Longlegs is the best example so far, Immaculate walked so Osgood Perkins’ serial killer tale could run. Plus, let’s not forget that before Longlegs, Immaculate‘s opening weekend was the best in Neon’s history.
Since the film’s release earlier this year, audiences have formed an angelic chorus singing its praises to the digital masses. And now that it’s hit Hulu, that choir is only growing.
What Hulu viewers are saying
What did you think of Immaculate? Are you going to catch it now that it’s streaming on Hulu? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram @DreadCentral.
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