The Conjuring Universe continues with The Nun II, a sequel to the 2018 film. Ever for the reason that first film by James Wan was launched in 2013, this cinematic universe of horror movies has seen 9 entries. That is one other story surrounding Valak, the demon nun launched in The Conjuring 2. The sequel brings again Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet for an additional outing as Sister Irene and Maurice. Though the primary Nun film was a uninteresting, unscary try at cashing in on a scary character from a scarier movie, this sequel is a surprisingly well-made movie that surpasses the unique in practically each means.
Let’s not get forward of ourselves—The Nun 2 isn’t one of many yr’s finest horror motion pictures. The Conjuring motion pictures have been of various qualities for the reason that starting. It’s not incredible, however it’s leaps and bounds higher than the primary movie. This movie is directed by Michael Chaves, who has now directed extra entries within the collection than Wan himself. Chaves began out with The Curse of La Llorona earlier than touchdown the gig on The Conjuring: The Satan Made Me Do It. Though his first enterprise was not notably robust, his progress as a director could be seen in every entry. Every of his movies has been higher than the final, and this sequel proves he was a significantly better match for the collection than Corin Hardy from the primary one.
From the opening scene, The Nun 2 makes use of sound beautifully. In the identical means creepy sound results and loud bounce scares are necessary for horror, silence could be much more efficient. The dread you get from the opening few scenes is outstanding, and there’s one specific scene early on that instantly raises the stakes for the remainder of the movie. Though Chaves generally can not appear to chorus from the occasional dream sequence, low cost bounce scare, and darkish determine passing throughout the digital camera, the route is cleaner and extra unpredictable than its predecessor.
Moreover, the characters obtain extra improvement than they did within the first movie. The 2018 film by no means will get in-depth about who these individuals are. From the beginning, we study extra about Irene’s backstory along with her mom, which we study extra about later. There’s a higher sense of sympathy in direction of her, even when The Nun II doesn’t all the time do the perfect job of intertwining the characters and story. We even have Storm Reid as Debra, a sister with a couple of points with authority whom Irene shortly befriends. After her appearances in The Suicide Squad and Lacking, she will solely be described as a sequel’s good luck attraction, assuring {that a} undertaking will probably be nearly as good as, if not higher than the unique.
Farmiga and Reid are each wonderful within the movie, however one other shocking enchancment is the character of Maurice. The primary time we’re launched to Maurice within the first film, he’s introduced as a promiscuous playboy who flirts with Irene proper after assembly her. He’s not the best character to love. Nonetheless, this film’s opening scene with him entails his caring, tender relationship with a younger youngster named Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey). He’s immediately a extra investing character than he beforehand was. Downey can be an exquisite addition to the forged, as she portrays Sophie with an ideal quantity of concern.
The Nun II can be higher when it comes to its lighting and framing. This can be a a lot better-shot movie than the primary, as Tristan Nyby brings in some incredible cinematography. Just a few scares are extra out of the field than you’d count on. Different scares have you ever not questioning what’s going to occur, however when it should occur.
There’s an overarching sense of thriller surrounding the narrative. This existed within the first movie, however the execution is significantly better right here, even whether it is narratively tough across the edges. With wealthy settings and a extra vibrant coloration palette, The Nun II is a course correction from the unique with out ever spitting in its face. This sequel incorporates story parts from the primary expertly all through the narrative, even when the primary two acts should not as fascinating as they hoped to be.
After the disappointing first installment, The Nun 2 has introduced the collection again on monitor with extra fright than the primary. It options wonderful youngster performances, and scares that work significantly better for the character. It additionally introduces a couple of new concepts into The Conjuring Universe, which can be used for future installments. As somebody who was not a fan of the primary film in any respect, I used to be shocked by how a lot this sequel needed to provide. If you happen to have been upset by the 2018 The Nun, this film is bound to carry your spirits with its scarier, extra unpredictable moments and imagery surrounding the antagonist — dropped at life by Bonnie Aarons.
SCORE: 7/10
As ComingSoon’s evaluate coverage explains, a rating of seven equates to “Good.” A profitable piece of leisure that’s price testing, however it might not enchantment to everybody.