Initially she struggles with the language barrier, hard work and tutelage under strict English Sister Isabella (Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi) but eventually makes a friend in Gwen (Benedetta Porcaroli) and finds her place.
Then suddenly and impossibly Sister Cecilia falls pregnant.
No good will come of this.
CW: jump scares, body horror, birth, violence, creepy Catholicism
Michael Mohan directs this Sydney Sweeney vehicle with a real creepy eye. Catholic imagery has inspired tons of horror with dubious priests and nuns an absolute mainstay of the genre but just because it's been done before doesn't mean it's a cliché that can no longer entertain.
The incredulous Cecilia is shocked, finds herself treated at first with reverence then later as a mere vessel for the miracle to come. It gets quite grim and I was engrossed throughout.
Timely as places all over the world, not just the US, are politicising birth and bodily autonomy for women this doesn't really go there other than very broadly thematically. It's just straight religious tinged horror with obvious comparisons to Rosemary's Baby.
Sweeney, as ever, is good but Porcaroli is also excellent as her friend despite getting comparatively little screen time.
Solidly creepy but unsurprising 7/10.