The newest film in the Conjuring universe, “The Nun II,” was recently released and it stands as an interesting inclusion into the franchise. Set four years after the events of the previous movie, this film picks back up with Sister Irene, played by Taissa Farmiga, who has moved on to serve a convent in Italy. But demonic events in France would take her to face the entity known as Valak once again.
This film sets the precedent high off the bat with some great scene settings and dark atmosphere that is common in films of the Conjuring franchise. Yet the stand-out feature of this movie would likely be its effects. An instance of this would be in the very beginning of the movie where a priest comes upon boiling holy water and the steam from the water rises up, revealing Valak standing before him.
This was just the start of many visually pleasing effects that would be used throughout the film.
In fact, the effects and atmosphere building are what carry the majority of this movie. The plot is fairly boring and at times it almost felt as though it would take the back seat in exchange for a scare. Still, it provides a plot that you could follow along with, but it just isn’t the best.
Where the movie picks up the slack is with its creative kills and effects. Valak’s demonic and haunting nature is put on full display, and Bonnie Aarons would do a great job playing the demon throughout the film. Aarons’s portrayal of the character really captures the dark aspect of Valak’s mission throughout the film and what its end goal is.
Valak’s ruthlessness makes for some pretty brutal kills throughout the film, showing off many different ways in which the effects department worked hard on this film.
Not only that, but the actors in this film worked well with what they were given. Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet put on a good performance while together on screen and Bloquet portrays Frenchie fairly well throughout the film. The supporting cast in general did a great job with the script they were handed.
Overall, “The Nun II” is an interesting horror movie that unfortunately falls victim to a rushed plot. Its visual effects and actors all fit the bill of a Hollywood horror sequel set on purely making cash, but the plot holds back the movie. Still, it is not the worst movie in a genre filled with some true horrors.
