Director Michael Mohan’s new horror film, Immaculate, has had its title changed in Russia, much to the confusion of the filmmaker. The movie, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and had a limited theatrical release in the United States, was recently released on premium video on demand. However, the film is still opening in theaters overseas, and in Russia, the title was changed to a combination of Immaculate and another recent religion-based horror thriller called “The First Omen.”
Mohan took to X to express his bewilderment, stating, “Holy s—t. Am I reading this correctly? Did our Russian distributor change the title of our film to ‘OMEN. IMMACULATE’?” The reference to The Omen, a classic horror film, seemed bizarre and out of place given the original intent of the movie. The poster features the new title in Russian along with other production information, prompting Mohan to share his confusion with fans on social media.
Interestingly, the plots of Immaculate and The First Omen share some key similarities, despite being separate films. Immaculate stars Sydney Sweeney as a young nun who uncovers sinister events in an Italian convent, realizing she is somehow pregnant. In contrast, The First Omen follows Nell Tiger Free as a novitiate in Rome investigating a conspiracy to birth a new Antichrist within the church. Despite the narrative overlaps, the confusion over Immaculate’s title in Russia could potentially impact its box office performance in the country.
Fans and commenters on Mohan’s post noted that film title misinterpretations are not uncommon in Russia, citing previous examples. Mohan, who currently follows 666 users on X, may find some irony in the numerical connection to the mark of the beast in The Omen films. Immaculate marks the second collaboration between Sweeney and Mohan, following their work on The Voyeurs and the Netflix series Everything Sucks!
As Immaculate continues its theatrical run overseas, the peculiar title change in Russia has sparked conversation among fans and industry insiders. The unexpected juxtaposition with The First Omen adds a layer of complexity to the film’s reception in different markets. Mohan’s humorous response to the situation and the shared traits between the two horror films have generated interest in how audiences will perceive Immaculate’s unique blend of religious themes and horror elements.
In the ever-evolving landscape of international film distribution, cultural interpretations and translations can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes for filmmakers. While Immaculate’s title change in Russia may have been a surprising development, it has highlighted the interconnected nature of the horror genre and the potential for different narratives to resonate across borders. With Immaculate now available for audiences to stream globally, the film’s journey from festival premiere to international release serves as a reminder of the diverse ways in which cinema can captivate and engage viewers worldwide.
