- Release Date : 08 September 2023
- Genre : Horror
- Language : English
The Nun 2
Introduction
There was no way in hell I was missing The Nun 2 in theatres, given how much I love the horror genre, and how invested I am in The Conjuring Universe (Conjuringverse). I went in with very limited expectations, considering I didn’t really like The Nun (2018), and it was pretty much down to loyalty to the franchise. But did James Wan and Co deliver this time around? Read on to find out!
Story & Screenplay
Sister Irene (a terrific Taissa Farmiga) is back, now living a low-key life as a nun in a nondescript church somewhere in Europe, away from the limelight, almost okay with the rumors surrounding her having gone insane post the events of The Nun (frankly, who won’t?).
But then, the dreaded Nun shows up in another church in France, killing a priest in one of the most haunting opening scenes I’ve seen in recent memory.
Now the Church has tasked Irene to find the Nun/Demon Valak again, considering she fought her (and supposedly beat her) once. So, in a role reversal of sorts, she goes on a hunt for Valak, across Europe, along with her almost atheist sidekick, Sister Debra (Storm Reid).
Will she find out what Valak is after? Will she be able to find Valak, before Valak finds her? That forms the core of the engaging 110-minute screenplay, adeptly written by Akela Cooper, Ian Goldberg, and Richard Naing. They not only make the story seem more imminent, they also immediately raise the stakes in this version, compared to the last.
This movie is way too superior to The Nun, in more ways than one. And it begins with writing.
Not only does the film introduce a whole new religious artifact, which might play a role in the Conjuringverse going forward, but it also boasts of one the most creative and creepiest scenes in horror movie history, the one with the magazine stand. Too sad they gave it away in the trailer.
Performances
Storm Reid as sister Debra continues her great year, after Searching. She’s sufficiently funny, which adds a much needed layer of humor to the proceedings. Jonas Bloquet as Maurice/Frenchie is now a much better actor now than he was in The Nun. Playing the role of the possessed victim, the actor has to heavily lean towards the more physical side of acting, but even when he’s ‘normal’ there’s a certain likeablity about him. Anna Popplewell as Kate is good, but she doesn’t have a lot to do. Katelyn Rose Downey as little girl Sophie is cute and charming, and brave when she has to be. Bonnie Aarons as Valak does look and act scary, but by now she can play this role in her sleep.
Which brings us to the star of the show, Taissa Farmiga. You can see the actress has grown by leaps and bounds in the 5 years since the first instalment to now. She’s restrained in her performance, and reacts well to her environment – whether its exchanging dialogues with Storm Reid, or getting scared, or putting up a brave face while internally being scared. Frankly, after watching The Nun, I felt that Taissa only got the gig because she is Vera Farmiga’s (Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring series) sister. But I am glad she’s proven me wrong. The Nun 2 is Taissa Farmiga’s coming out party and I am excited to see what she does next.
Conclusion
The Nun 2 is a vast improvement on The Nun, and one of the better entries in the Conjuringverse. Must watch if you are a horror fan. Now running in theatres.
Disclaimer: The above review solely illustrates the views of the writer.