The Nun II (2023) Improves on Its Predecessor’s Formula Without Shocking Too Much
Title: The Nun II
First Non-Festival Release: September 6, 2023 (Theatrical Release)
Director: Michael Chaves
Writer: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, Akela Cooper
Runtime: 110 Minutes
Starring: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Bonnie Aarons
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
The Conjuring Universe is one of the most successful franchises spurn out of the 2010s and is known for its deep lore and faith driven stories. The eighth film in this franchise, The Nun II, adds more depth to the chapter that long proceeds the majority of the Conjuring Universe and focuses on the frightening demon, Valak.
Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) is called upon by her church again to face off against the evil entity Valak (Bonnie Aarons) that prefers to don the face and body of a nun. She answers the call only after she dreams of Maurice (Jonas Bloquet) asking her to save him. Whilst on her way to France, she finds that Sister Debra (Storm Reid) has joined her for the journey. Meanwhile, unaware of the danger he is in, Maurice befriends a young girl, Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey) and her mother, Kate (Anna Popplewell), at his new place of work, a boarding school.
A marked improvement over its limp predecessor, The Nun II ups the scares and stakes while adding more depth to its story.
Smart writing choices allow the mystery behind The Nun II to simmer after the obvious implications of the 2018 version’s stinger ending. From the end of the first iteration of the spin-off franchise, it is clear that Valak isn’t done, and that Maurice is the conduit for its future reign of terror. The question now is what happens between now and then. The Nun II coyly gives partial answers in hopes to continue the franchise, but the explanation is satisfying enough to warrant a second entry. The first film suffered from its seriously dull protagonists. Thankfully, a series of more lively and interesting characters are introduced this time. The skeptical Sister Debra and ball-of-energy Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey) give their respective returning characters a fulfilling subplot to delve deeper into their character arcs, as the central plot converges on the former monastery.
The dynamic pacing between the two-steps behind investigation by Sisters Irene and Debra and the boarding school going to hell, allows for the suspense to naturally culminate in a wickedly fun manner. Because The Nun II separates its protagonists, it gives the audience two different movies in one: a race-against-time mystery and a haunted house horror film. Writer Akela Cooper knows how to imbue a sense of urgency in both tales that make neither feel like afterthoughts. Once the timelines converge, there is a messiness in getting the characters quickly acquainted with one another that feels natural and almost refreshing in a way.
The Nun II capitalizes on its more creative and interesting manners of supernatural mayhem to up the difficulties for its protagonists while giving audiences more of a thrill. The sinister glare of Valak may be enough to send shivers down your spine but more goes into creating the atmosphere necessary to unsettle audiences. The Nun II clearly learned many lessons from its predecessor on what not to do, as this sequel does a much better job at conveying the terror that is Valak. Most of the demon’s torment hits harder when it lays hidden in shadows and dreams, as evident by a rough third act. The buildup in The Nun II balances human terror with the supernatural excellently. Perhaps Valak’s best trick is manipulating animals and animal-like creatures to reduce its prey, and the audience, to weeping messes.
While the scares are better executed and the story is more engaging, The Nun II still fails to give adequate depth and punch behind its central antagonist. Valak has always had so much potential to be a terrifying and effective villain, which makes it so odd that the franchise refuses to give the demon any teeth. Sure, this sequel gives the demonic nun some new and terrifying powers, but its endgame feels very inconsequential. Valak also tends to hover without moving or doing anything while its victims fight off its manifestations or otherwise plot against it. In the end, Valak still feels unrealized as an antagonist and rides off its unsettling juxtaposition of demonic and angelic imagery.
A sequel that succeeds largely because its source material is rotten to most moviegoers and horror fanatics, The Nun II takes a step in the right direction to be a largely entertaining haunted house jaunt. Capable performances and fun set pieces make this entry in the Conjuring franchise a breezy and brainless experience. It doesn’t quite take away from Valak’s impotent approach to its adversaries and the rather generic thrills, but it makes for a fun film, nonetheless. The Nun II may not be the winning film that the franchise needs at this point, but it does its job suitably enough for the impatient.
Overall Score? 6/10
