Sydney Sweeney’s body horror
A decade ago, Sydney Sweeney came across a script for a horror flick narrating the terrifying ordeal of a pure girl's impregnation at an Irish boarding school. She coveted the lead role but luck didn't favor her as the movie never made it to the big screen. Sydney then geared up for other projects, but the haunted plot continued to linger in her mind for years. While shooting for "The Handmaid's Tale" in 2018, where women's bodies were depicted as mere vessels, Sydney was reminded of Immaculate. She started to imagine what it would be like if she could finally make it happen someday.
Sweeney managed to find the screenwriter who wrote the original script, Andrew Lobel, to revive the movie. In 2020, after finishing the first season of HBO's The White Lotus, she discussed with one of the program's producers, Dave Bernad, the idea of creating a horror movie together. "You know what?" Sweeney suggested, "I actually have the perfect script." Sweeney joined forces with Bernad and her fiancé, producer Jonathan Davino, to finance and create the movie. Immaculate is Sweeney's maiden production effort through her production company, Fifty-Fifty Films, which she founded in 2020 to gain more influence in the film industry.
After collaborating on Everything Sucks! and The Voyeurs, Sweeney brought in director Michael Mohan to work with them again. Mohan proposed changing the setting of the script from a school in Ireland to a convent in Rome. Mohan explained that the character begins as a submissive and religious woman, but as the film progresses she transforms into a wild and blood-soaked creature, unleashing a primal scream.
The movie Immaculate is hitting theaters this week and it's a horror flick that reflects the current situation of society. The protagonist, Cecilia, seems to have experienced an immaculate conception, leading the religious people around her to become fixated on the so-called divine gift she carries. Additionally, Immaculate is a story about a young woman searching for a deeper purpose, but finding herself in a precarious situation. Sweeney, the director of the movie, explained that Cecilia realizes that her life is not meant to be dictated by others, but rather she should take control of her own destiny.
Sweeney is currently in Paris for the Miu Miu show and she answers my call from her hotel bed, still feeling the effects. We are chatting three days after she hosted Saturday Night Live, where Sweeney took the chance to use her opening monologue to speak honestly about a few topics that have shaped her last year. “It's uncommon that I get the chance to be live and, moreover, to be using my own words instead of someone else's,” she expresses. “I was exposed to a lot of absurd things and people tend to take them and run with them. I'm just poking fun at them.”
The Twitter fans who love to share videos and the people on TikTok who love to speculate about the love lives of famous couples really freaked out about a possible romantic relationship between the stars of Anyone But You, Sarah Sweeney and Glen Powell. When they appeared on SNL, the two actors made fun of the rumors. Sweeney denied the gossip in her opening monologue and jokingly asked the camera to show her fiancé to prove that he supported her. The camera then cut to Powell, who was also in on the joke.
"We aimed to have a light tone and convey a message of 'let's not take things too seriously'," she expresses. During filming of Anyone but You in Australia, Davino was present whilst rumors circulated about her alleged infidelity. However, she believes that aspect of the story isn't worth discussing, hence why it hasn't garnered much attention.
She mentions that the media cannot be controlled, which was a significant topic in her monologue. She further explains that people have the liberty to write and speak whatever they want, but without any factual evidence or research, it's merely clickbait.
Anyone but You, a movie that was made with a budget of only $25 million, has earned over $200 million at the box office. This movie has breathed new life into a genre that was thought to be dead and many people are still lining up to see it in theaters more than two months after it was released. Sweeney is amazed at how popular the movie has become and how much it resonated with audiences. She believes that the reason for its success was how much fun they had while filming, with moments like the improvised Titanic scene between her and Powell's characters, and a cast screening of Mulroney's classic My Best Friend's Wedding, which he had not seen since its premiere in 1997.
It's well-known that a follow-up film is possibly in development, but there hasn't been an official confirmation yet. According to Sweeney, they've been brainstorming various concepts to make sure the viewers are satisfied with the sequel and that it feels fresh and thrilling for the filmmakers.
I first made the acquaintance of Sweeney back in September of 2022, soon after she had attended the Emmys where she had been nominated for two awards for her work on Euphoria and The White Lotus. Since then, she has smoothly transitioned from dominating the world of television to establishing herself as a reputable name in Hollywood, accomplishing what has proven to be a rare feat in 2024: becoming a confirmed box office sensation. In the 2023 drama film Reality, Sweeney delivered a noteworthy and unsettling performance in the role of the whistleblower for Russian election interference, Reality Winner. She was able to accurately imitate Winner's voice and mannerisms by speaking with her on the phone, and the script even used the exact transcript from her interrogation by the FBI. This marked a departure from Sweeney's typical portrayals of characters who are, as she put it herself on SNL, "the girl on TV who screams, cries, and has sex. Sometimes all three at the same time."
Sweeney has changed the type of movies she acts in, from romantic comedies to superhero action films and now to a scary independent film. Although she has made a lot of money at the box office, some people have noticed that not everybody likes her latest movie, Anyone but You. Some movie critics have given it a score of 55% on a website called Rotten Tomatoes, but 87% of viewers who went to the same website said they enjoyed it. Sweeney says that sometimes she makes movies for the critics and other times she makes movies for her fans. She believes that her fans deserve movies that make them feel happy and want to dance and sing after they see them. She tells a story about a time when she went to a movie premiere in LA and some people recognized her. They started screaming a song called "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield, which is featured in the movie. Sweeney joined in and danced down the street with them. It made her feel really happy and was a special experience.
Sweeney's recent release, Madame Web, received negative reactions and was even ridiculed on SNL. However, she remains unbothered when asked how she feels about the harsh reviews and memes. Sweeney explains that the movie was a huge production with many people involved, and her role was simply that of an actor. She was happy to bring a character to life that her young cousins were excited about. Sweeney acknowledges that when working on a film of this magnitude, she has no control over the outcome, especially as a non-producer. Thus, she accepted whatever came her way and enjoyed the ride.
Was she aware that there was something unusual during the filming of the movie? "No, I don't think so. The process was quite different from what I'm accustomed to," she responds. The lead actress of Madame Web, Dakota Johnson, stated that she is not likely to participate in a similar project in the future. However, Sweeney, who plays the character of Julia Carpenter, the future Spider-Woman, is more diplomatic about it. "If the story is appropriate, and the team is right, I would be thrilled to be a part of it."
When talking about the opportunities that come with a big franchise, Sweeney is upfront and honest. Even though the film didn't turn out the way she wanted it to, it still helped her career. "In my opinion, that movie was like a stepping stone. It helped me establish connections with Sony. If I didn't work on Madame Web, I wouldn't have been able to get to know the people in charge over there," she explains. "When it comes to my career, every decision I make isn't just about the story. It's also strategic business moves. Because I worked on that project, I was able to pitch Anyone But You and eventually secure the role of Barbarella."
Sweeney and I crossed paths about a year and a half ago at a pottery cafe located in the southern outskirts of Boston. Our initial conversation gravitated towards her physique and the unsettling feeling that she experienced when strangers assert their authority over it. Sweeney distinctly said, "My identity is not limited to my physical form."
As I sat through the frustrating and foolish exchange (which started on Twitter and was later picked up by conservative publications trying to generate buzz), a particular phrase kept coming to mind. The debate centered around whether comedian Chloe Fineman's breasts on her Saturday Night Live performance were a form of product placement meant to signify the downfall of woke culture. However, as I watched Fineman's various sketches, I couldn't help but notice how she cleverly addressed the negative comments she receives on social media and parodied her own characters. One such character was a Hooters waitress with exaggerated features, while another was a starry-eyed cheerleader who didn't fall for one of TikTok's "golden retriever boyfriends," but instead was in love with an actual golden retriever.
Sweeney planned to utilize her appearance on SNL as an opportunity to poke fun at the comments people have made about her. In the beginning of the show, she presented a comical monologue in which she revealed that her five-year scheme to become an actress included a safety net strategy of "revealing her chest." The point she was trying to make was that her breasts had always been a hidden aspect of her grand plan, but judging by the online feedback, many members of the audience failed to grasp the humor. To quote Sweeney herself, she chuckles, "There are countless people out there who truly believe that my notoriety is due to my decision to expose my chest to the public."
I inquired if she has become more proficient in managing the presumptions of strangers. She replied that you simply acquire knowledge of the game. You can resist it, but it will resist you back. Even if you defend yourself, others will criticize you for doing so.
In the next couple of months, Sweeney is going to commence filming for the third installment of Euphoria. She's keeping a lid on what's in store, but she did mention that viewers will be blown away by what's in store for season three. She also admitted that this season is going to be a departure from the previous ones, which she thinks is a positive thing since the first two seasons were quite dissimilar.
Is season four of the show possible in her opinion? "I'm not sure about that. If there's more to Cassie's story, then maybe. I have a strong affection for the character and the people involved in the production, but ultimately, it's about doing justice to the narrative."
In the year 2022, Sweeney sent a message to director Michael Mohan inquiring, "Do you have an inclination for horror?" After a span of only three months, the duo was present in Rome recording the film Immaculate.
The final cut of the movie showcases Immaculate’s plot which revolves around Cecilia, a religious sister who discovers her purpose after almost losing her life. She decides to dedicate herself to God and takes up residence in an impressive Franciscan monastery located on the outskirts of Rome, Italy. Sweeney’s portrayal of a nun can be perceived as one of her controversial antics aimed at debunking stereotypes related to her as a woman. In the film, Cecilia miraculously becomes pregnant via a process that is referred to as the immaculate conception. Her body is considered to be a chosen one and is therefore under the protection of the clergy and physicians, making the situation even more eerie.
The film Immaculate has added to the trend of movies featuring dolls, according to The New Yorker. The trend involves exploring the concept of women being controlled by men. However, unlike those films, Immaculate does not have a positive ending in which women are empowered. In the movie, the main character, Cecilia, has an argument with another sister in the convent and becomes ill. Despite this, nobody seems to care, and when they find out that the baby's heartbeat is coming from her stomach, they ignore her distress. Cecilia speaks out, saying that she is not okay, but nobody seems to listen or care.
According to Sweeney, the woman was just a container. The people in charge were only concerned about her physical health because she was carrying something important. They didn't care about how she felt emotionally, only that her body was functioning properly. Sweeney believes that this lack of concern for the woman's wellbeing is indicative of a complete absence of humanity.
Immaculate is a horror movie that goes all out, depicting scenes of torture where characters have their soles burned by crucifix-shaped red hot pokers and resort to extreme measures to remove their own fingernails and teeth. Mohan and Sweeney drew inspiration from the 1968 classic Rosemary’s Baby for the film's camera work, providing a claustrophobic feel by staying close to Mia Farrow's character and showing motherhood as a dive into insanity.
Mohan explains how the initial experience was full of romance and enchantment, admiring the captivating frescoes and the grandeur which reminded him of his Catholic upbringing. However, as time passed and her physical condition worsened, their aesthetic experiences also deteriorated.
Mohan, who used to be a Catholic but no longer practices the religion, grew up in a town near Boston where the events of the movie Spotlight occurred. According to him, Immaculate is a tale of redemption and religious turmoil - it's about reflecting on your beliefs and values, and deciding what aspects of your religion you do and don't align with. Once you've made that choice, there's a sense of peace and release.
The last time I saw Sweeney was when the American law known as Roe v Wade was overturned. Now, it has been banned in 21 states, either completely or after six weeks, and three more states are going through the process of banning it. It's difficult to separate the political climate from the topics covered in the movie Immaculate, but Sweeney wants to keep some distance. I ask if the film is about the ongoing battle for women's reproductive rights. Sweeney responds by saying that "some people will see it that way." Mohan agrees, adding that he doesn't want the film to come across as purely political and miss reaching its target audience.
Although their intention to steer clear of political controversy doesn't weaken the impactful message of Immaculate or the uneasy portrayal by Sweeney, it's worth noting that the movie's stunning finale may dispel any notions of her being a hero for the conservative movement.
Mohan disagreed with the original conclusion of the Immaculate script when he read it. He came up with an idea for a scene that would last for two minutes without any cuts, and it ended up being included in the final movie. Mohan stated that he proposed this idea to Sydney to create a horror film that would have a lasting impact on audiences. He also believed that Sydney was willing to fully commit to the scene as an actress.
The enduring memory of Sweeney's prolonged cries will linger, along with the agony expressed by Cecilia as her fear and anger radiate through her. The entire scene was captured in a single shot. Sweeney confesses that he doesn't prepare or practice beforehand when filming the dramatic ending. Instead, they allow the scene to unfold naturally.
Sweeney has a unique approach to acting that ensures she doesn't take her work home with her. She is currently working on a dark and intense thriller called Echo Valley, where she portrays the disturbed daughter of Julianne Moore. Although this role has left her feeling more drained than usual, she is still able to easily separate herself from the character at the end of the day. This talent for embodying different characters and then letting them go was first observed by Mohan when Sweeney played a shapeshifting role on Everything Sucks! at just 19 years old. The ending of Immaculate, her latest project, showcases Sweeney's fearlessness as an actress. Mohan has noticed this quality in her for years and admires how effortlessly she can push boundaries to give audiences the shock they crave.
Following her appearance on SNL, a hashtag called "Sydney Sweeney leak" became popular on X (previously known as Twitter) due to swindlers releasing images of her that were edited to look like they were private nude photos. Although some of them received malware links as an act of justice, it reminded us of how admirers used to tag Sweeney's young relatives in naked scenes of her from Euphoria, which made her feel violated and enraged.
The feeling of being violated turns into anger for Immaculate. She experienced many intense moments as Cecilia, and the suffering, fear, and sadness that Cecilia went through made her very emotional. She released Cecilia's emotions in a deep and intense way.
Immaculate seems like a clever and unusual answer to the pressure of others wanting to possess your body. A reviewer who watched the movie at SXSW had this to say: "Immaculate: a film where Sydney Sweeney realistically embodies the role of a woman who believes that her God-given talents are causing people to behave strangely towards her."
Sweeney is very attached to the film, which she put a lot of effort into creating, and the scream at the end is Cecilia's way of letting go. It's a loud and primal scream that comes from a real-life incident, which makes it all the more powerful. Sweeney believes that what makes Immaculate truly terrifying is how it reflects real-life situations, rather than relying on blood and gore to frighten viewers.
Image credit: Emmanuel Sanchez Monsalve The first thing you need to do before starting any project is to set your objectives. This means having a clear idea of what you want to achieve and why. It is important to write down your objectives and make them specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This will help you stay on track and focus on what is essential to reach your goals. Additionally, it is critical to review your progress regularly and make any necessary adjustments to ensure that you are moving in the right direction. Finally, always remember to celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small, as it is essential to acknowledge your hard work and stay motivated.
