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Since 2013, the “Conjuring” franchise has been expanding, with films like “Annabelle” and “The Nun” captivating audiences. “The Nun,” released in 2018, was a hit, grossing $365.6 million on a $22 million budget. While plans for a spinoff featuring “The Crooked Man” were scrapped, a sequel to “The Nun” is in the works. However, given the challenges faced by the film industry this year, it remains uncertain if “The Nun 2” will surpass its predecessor’s success.
The Nun 2 is set four years after the first film, where we follow Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with the demonic force, Valek, the Nun, at a boarding school in France.
The Nun 2 is a mess of a film from start to finish. It seems to be able to setup the story that it wants to tell in its opening scene, which is a spectacle to watch, but as soon as that scene finishes, it becomes exposition galore, and not in any good way. The film somehow manages to turn into a murder mystery film where Sister Irene is sent off to find out where the demon is heading and to stop her once again. This sounds like an interesting concept when put on paper, but The Nun 2 somehow manages to miss the mark on this one.
The film tends to drag on with its murder mystery storyline, which takes up most of the first act and the entirety of the second act. It misses the mark on this entirely because the audience already knows all the answers that Sister Irene is trying to figure out. If they actually managed to keep its suspense, then it could’ve at least made for a fun watch. Sadly, The Nun 2 fails to do that before Sister Irene even begins to investigate.
The film also introduces some new characters. However, these characters fail to bring anything new to the storyline, resulting in a stale sequel. Kate, portrayed by Anna Popplewell, plays the role of both a teacher at the boarding school and the mother of Sophie, brilliantly portrayed by Katelyn Rose Downey. Sophie’s performance stands out as the only remarkable one in this film. Unfortunately, the attempt to create a romantic subplot between Kate and Frenchie falls flat, as they lack any chemistry on screen.
Sister Debra, portrayed by Storm Reid, brought a fresh dynamic to the film. However, her character storyline in this film was underdeveloped and ultimately forgotten by the end. It is unfortunate to see such potential go to waste, as she had the opportunity to be the most captivating character. The film missed a chance to explore a compelling plotline involving Sister Debra, which would have made more narrative sense and added depth to her character.
When it comes to horror movies, the main concern for everyone is their scare factor. However, this film fails to deliver on that front. As someone who typically avoids horror films packed with jumpscares, I found this movie lacking in its ability to instill fear. Instead, it often elicited laughter with its numerous attempts at jump scares. One scene, featured in the trailer, shows magazines and newspapers with pages that turn rapidly. This particular scene stands as the sole effective jumpscare in the film, though it can still be anticipated from a distance.
The Nun 2 is further proof that the horror genre is declining at a steady pace. With only a few good horror movies releasing each year, while the rest feel exactly like this film, the genre is at risk of losing interest and box office appeal. However, there is hope as the Conjuring franchise has another film in the works, which may lead to improvements down the line.
★
The Nun 2 releases in theatres September 8.
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