The Conjuring Universe continues with The Nun II, a sequel to the 2018 film. Ever because the first film by James Wan was launched in 2013, this cinematic universe of horror movies has seen 9 entries. This 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. Although the primary Nun film was a boring, 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 will not be one of many yr’s finest horror motion pictures. The Conjuring motion pictures have been of various qualities because the 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 sequence than Wan himself. Chaves began out with The Curse of La Llorona earlier than touchdown the gig on The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Although his first enterprise was not significantly robust, his development as a director might be seen in every entry. Each of his movies has been higher than the final, and this sequel proves he was a a lot better match for the sequence than Corin Hardy from the primary one.
From the opening scene, The Nun 2 makes use of sound fantastically. In the identical means creepy sound results and loud leap scares are necessary for horror, silence is perhaps much more efficient. The dread you get from the opening few scenes is outstanding, and there may be one specific scene early on that instantly raises the stakes for the remainder of the movie. Although Chaves generally can not appear to chorus from the occasional dream sequence, low cost leap scare, and darkish determine passing throughout the digital camera, the course is cleaner and extra unpredictable than its predecessor.
Furthermore, 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 persons are. From the beginning, we be taught extra about Irene’s backstory along with her mom, which we be taught extra about later. There is a better sense of sympathy in the direction of her, even when The Nun II doesn’t all the time do the very best job of intertwining the characters and story. We even have Storm Reid as Debra, a sister with just a few points with authority whom Irene rapidly befriends. After her appearances in The Suicide Squad and Missing, she will solely be described as a sequel’s good luck attraction, assuring {that a} challenge will likely be pretty much as good as, if not higher than the unique.
Farmiga and Reid are each wonderful within the movie, however one other stunning enchancment is the character of Maurice. The first 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 simplest character to love. However, this film’s opening scene with him entails his caring, tender relationship with a younger little one named Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey). He’s immediately a extra investing character than he beforehand was. Downey can be an exquisite addition to the solid, as she portrays Sophie with an ideal quantity of worry.
The Nun II can be higher when it comes to its lighting and framing. This is a a lot better-shot movie than the primary, as Tristan Nyby brings in some incredible cinematography. A few scares are extra out of the field than you’ll count on. Other scares have you ever not questioning what is going to occur, however when it is going to occur.
There’s an overarching sense of thriller surrounding the narrative. This existed within the first movie, however the execution is a lot 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 will not be as fascinating as they hoped to be.
After the disappointing first installment, The Nun 2 has introduced the sequence again on monitor with extra fright than the primary. It options wonderful little one performances, and scares that work a lot better for the character. It additionally introduces just a few 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 stunned by how a lot this sequel needed to supply. If you had been disenchanted by the 2018 The Nun, this film is bound to elevate 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 value testing, however it might not enchantment to everybody.
(*2*)
Discussion about this post