Movie: The Nun 2
Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Atomic Monster, The Safran Company
Director: Michael Chaves
Producers: James Wan, Peter Safran, Judson Scott
Scriptwriters: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, Akela Cooper
Main Cast: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplwell
Release Date: 8th September 2023
Running Time: 110 minutes
Certificate: 15
Introduction: The latest addition to ‘The Conjuring Universe’ – something I am a complete stranger to- is adequately made but just feels rather pointless.
Synopsis: After a series of murders are committed by an unknown entity, Sister Irene- whom we first saw in 2018’s ‘The Nun’ – (played by Taissa Farmiga- sister of Vera Farmiga who appears in ‘The Conjuring’ films) is called back to face the demon nun known as Valak.
Analysis: After having been pleasantly surprised with previous horror entries this year, Danny and Michael Philipou’s utterly superb ‘Talk To Me’ and Samuel Bodin’s intriguing ‘Cobweb’, how disappointing it is to say that this is a return of the most basic and boring that the horror genre has to offer. The film’s structure follows as such: plot and story development- jumpy set piece- plot and story development – jumpy set piece – plot and story development – jumpy set piece. All the way through. Most of the scares just feel forced and crow-barred in there for the sake of it, as if they are frantically trying to constantly remind you what franchise your watching or that you constantly need to be frightened.
Yes, I jolted occasionally but at no point was I creeped out or disturbed. When your watching a quiet scene followed by a loud noise, you’ll jump regardless, rendering it rather pointless. As a non horror watcher, that’s the last thing I should be saying. I truly do long for the days when we had such things like ‘The Babadook’, ‘It Follows’, ‘Hereditary’ to just name a few; thought provoking films that are actually about something. Admittedly, I shot myself in the foot with this one having not even seen it’s 2018 predecessor, thank God for those flashback’s as I would’ve been completely lost. But I have a suspicion my verdict would’ve stayed the same. The film’s plot works as well as it was going to, our heroes need to find a relic that defeats the evil upon it’s return, simple enough. It’s construction and build up for when it’s about to scare you is rather well constructed and I saw this in Dolby Atmos which helped.
There will be those of you out there who love this sort of thing (something that the franchises’ box office VERY much reflects- the first ‘Conjuring’ made $320 million worldwide on a $20 million dollar budget), who want to just go and see a film that makes you jump all the time and that’s fine, you wont be disappointed here and will get your price of admission. But for me, I want more than that, a film that properly gets under your skin without having to yell ‘BOO!’ every five minutes and has actual reasons for being creepy. To be rather blunt as well, I thought some of the appearances of the nun were just really quite naff and only when it’s cowering in the shadows is it then scary, the ending especially being rather silly with poor special effects.
One set piece involving a demonic goat (yes you read that correctly) did feel just stupid as well, I was actually surprised they went with it. It all just feels like basic, ordinary horror without any proper meaning other than to milk hundreds of millions of dollars. To prove my point, another installment is teased at the end.
Overall Rating: 4/10 – Disappointing
Target Audience: 15+
Content Warning: Horror, Violence
Recommendations: No
