The Nun

REVIEW:

When I first saw the tagline for The Nun – “The darkest chapter in the Conjuring universe” – I was genuinely excited. As a fan of the Conjuring series, I had high expectations for this prequel, especially since Valak, the demon nun, was such a chilling figure in The Conjuring 2. The film takes us to a remote abbey in Romania, an ideal gothic setting for a horror movie. The dark, oppressive atmosphere, from the shadowy corridors to the crypt-like underground, made it feel like the perfect location for a supernatural thriller. The film oozes darkness, both literally and metaphorically, which complements the story well.

One of the movie’s strengths lies in its cast, particularly Taissa Farmiga as Sister Irene. Farmiga, the younger sister of Conjuring star Vera Farmiga, brings a lot to the role, yet it feels like a missed opportunity not to connect her character to Lorraine Warren. Both characters are clairvoyant, and the eerie resemblance between the two actresses practically begs for a narrative tie-in, but sadly, the film never capitalises on this. Instead, Sister Irene remains isolated from the larger Conjuring universe, despite her clear potential for deeper connections to it.

The film’s soundtrack also deserves mention, especially the haunting liturgical choir music that underscores much of the action. The score blends religious hymns with sinister undertones, creating an ominous backdrop that heightens the sense of dread. This choice of music perfectly complements the movie’s dark, gothic atmosphere and gives many scenes a deeply unsettling feel. Even in quieter moments, the eerie choral arrangements linger, adding an extra layer of creepiness.

One scene that stood out for me was when Father Burke finds himself buried underground. The thought of being buried alive is terrifying in itself, and this moment had my heart racing. It was one of the film’s most intense sequences, and the confined space, mixed with the sense of suffocating, really upped the claustrophobia. For me, it was one of the more effective horror elements in the film, creating genuine tension without relying on jump scares.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the movie much more this time around compared to my initial viewing in the cinema. Unfortunately, my first experience was disrupted by distracting individuals talking throughout, which definitely took me out of the experience. Watching it again at home, with no interruptions and in a controlled environment, allowed me to fully immerse myself in the film’s dark atmosphere and pick up on subtleties I’d missed before.

However, I do have some gripes with the film. One of the major issues for me was the concept of using the blood of Jesus Christ to banish Valak. While the supernatural is part of what makes the Conjuring universe so compelling, this particular plot device felt a little far-fetched, especially considering the franchise’s strength in grounding its horror in a sense of realism. The Conjuring series is often at its best when it blurs the line between the real world and the supernatural, making us question what might be possible. But introducing the idea that Christ’s blood, which supposedly existed over 2,000 years ago, could still be used to seal a gate to hell took me out of that grounded reality. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the mythological elements, but in this case, it felt like too much of a stretch. I may be overthinking it, but it’s how my brain processes these types of details when watching a movie.

Another disappointment was the limited screen time of Valak, especially considering how her terrifying presence in The Conjuring 2 was what made her so popular and warranted this spin-off in the first place. Given the buildup, I expected the demon nun to take a more prominent role, but instead, she feels somewhat sidelined. This was a missed opportunity to delve deeper into her origins and amplify the fear she invokes. The film also suffers from several predictable jump scares. For example, the camera frequently pans back and forth in a way that practically telegraphs when a scare is coming. While jump scares are a staple of horror, they lose their impact when you can see them coming from a mile away.

Ultimately, while The Nun succeeds in creating an eerie atmosphere with its gothic setting and strong first act, it doesn’t quite deliver the level of fear or narrative complexity found in other Conjuring universe films. The film offers creepy moments and a memorable setting, but it falls short of the high standards set by the franchise, leaving it feeling more like an average horror film rather than a standout entry. Still, for fans of the universe, it’s worth a watch, especially for its darker tone and unique setting, even if it doesn’t quite reach the scare factor or depth we’ve come to expect.