The Conjuring first came out ten years ago. It was a film that changed a lot for the horror genre. Filmmaker James Wan crafted a story based on real people and real events, but managed to put nods towards other kinds of stories and here we are ten years later and there are now seven more films added to The Conjuring’s legacy. The eighth film is a sequel to the spin-off The Nun. The Nun II brings back the titular demon of Valak in the form of a Nun, and those who have followed the film series will know that this character first debuted in The Conjuring 2. The design of this character has since become iconic and a big part of the horror zeitgeist, which brings us to the reason behind The Nun II was made, but the question is that was it worth it?
The first film, The Nun, felt very gothic and atmospheric with a sense of mystery involved. This time it feels like the filmmakers have upped the ante as there are more cinematic set pieces and minor globe trotting involved which makes this new entry feel like a proper horror blockbuster. The Conjuring film series has relished in the fact that fans want more creatures, more demons and as a result we are treated to a few new terrifying designs and unholy beings, none of which I will spoil today. The variety, the scope and the production value certainly makes The Nun II look great but the story is a little hollow and the pacing appears to be a little off.
Filmmaker Michael Chaves has returned for the third time to helm a title in this cinematic universe. Chaves has previously crafted The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, both of which explored different cultures and genres, such as the courtroom drama scenes in the third Conjuring film, and as a result Chaves has managed to branch this universe out into some interesting directions. Unfortunately he has a pacing issue with his films, which is the same issue we have with this film. The film is almost split into two. Taissa Farmiga returns as Sister Irene, who along with Sister Debra, played by Storm Reid, are on a mission to find out what is causing a series of mysterious and unholy deaths of some prominent religious figures. Then there’s Maurice, played again by Jonas Bloquet who returns from the first film, who was last seen being possessed by Valak. He’s working at a Boarding School in France where there have been some supernatural occurrences. The two stories do eventually blend together, and the mystery aspects work well as does the horror, but by the end of the film the story gets a little bloated.
The Nun II does deliver the scares as expected too. There are many camera shots where the camera is static on an inanimate object and you’re looking everywhere on the screen waiting for something to jump out. It is an old-school horror technique that is utilised a lot in this film but it does work, even if it is an overused filmmaking gimmick. There are some really beautiful and horrifying shots too, especially at the start of the film in a church, and the film does a great job of creating a very tense atmosphere. As a result the film certainly looks like a more superior sequel, and it also feels more cinematic, but the grounded tone is gone and it does feel very much like a Conjuring film by the end. The characters all go through some sort of hellish experience as do we, the audience, and The Nun II does a lot of the same that works but not a lot that pushes the series forward into new territories.
★★★☆☆
3/5
Final Verdict:
The Conjuring universe is expanding and The Nun II proves that there are limitless stories to be told is this expanded narrative. The scares return, and the Nun proves yet again to be a classic design and a unique enemy within the cinematic landscape. Unfortunately, filmmaker Michael Chaves repeats what he does with his previous films as he creates an unevenly paced story where one second the characters are running around and the next there’s a sense of stealth and uneasiness. Fans of the series will however gain a lot from this instalment but at the end of the day it’s just another creepy entry in the ever-growing franchise.
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Alex Murray, the Head of Eyesight Productions
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