[FILM REVIEW] THE NUN II Review (2023)
Summary: 1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.
Year: 2023
Cinema Release Dates: 7th September 2023 (Australia), 7th September 2023 (Thailand), 8th September 2023 (UK), 8th September 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: USA, UK
Director: Michael Chaves
Screenwriter: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, Akela Cooper
Cast: Bonnie Aarons (The Demon Nun), Camille Amiel (Julie), Pascal Aubert (Father Noiret), Tamar Baruch (Sister Amara), Margot Bernazzi (Young Irene), Suzanne Bertish (Madame Laurent), Jonas Bloquet (Maurice), Lieve Carchon (Sister Concetta), Kate Colebrook (Irene’s Mother/St Lucy), Leontine d’Oncieu (Simone), Katelyn Rose Downey (Sophie), Maxime Elias-Menet (Jacques), Taissa Farmiga (Irene), Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren), Alexandra Gentil (Sister Astrid), Anouk Darwin Homewood (Celeste), David Horovitch (Cardinal Conroy), Peter Hudson (Father Ridley), Delcho Koprivshki (Ethan Rome), Viviana Moin (SIster Maria), Margot Morris (Aurelie), Fulvia Patrizia Olivieri (Abbess), Sarah Pachoud (Emily), Renata Palminiello (Sister Pia), Anna Popplewell (Kate), Gael Raes (Cedric the Altar Boy), Storm Reid (Debra), Natalia Safran (Sister Chloe), Paul Spera (Deacon Scott), Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren)
Running Time: 110 mins
Classification: M (Australia), 15 (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR THE NUN II REVIEWS
David Griffiths’ The Nun II Review
One of the most intriguing films of The Conjuring universe had to be 2018’s The Nun. To the cynical it was a film trying to cash in on the popularity of the franchise by delivering a kind of ‘origins’ story to one of the evils that seemed to be haunting Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga – Orphan). But to true fans of the franchise this delivered an interesting backstory and had some interesting ‘reveals’ about the characters in the universe if they were eagle-eyed enough to spot them.
Now comes The Nun II, directed by Michael Chaeves (The Curse Of La Llorona), which picks up shortly after the events of the first film. It is 1956 and nun Irene (Taissa Farmiga – The Bling Ring) is living a non-eventful life serving in a convent where no-one serving around her knows the events of her past. In fact the only person that she seems close to is a young rebellious nun by the name of Debra (Storm Reid – A Wrinkle In Time). Debra is kind and nice-natured but doesn’t easily obey the rules that are to be abided by in the convent.
Meanwhile Maurice (Jonas Bloquet – Elle) has started a whole new life as a maintenance man at a boarding school. Here he has started to get close to teacher, Kate (Anna Popplewell – The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, The Wardrobe), and her daughter Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey – The Princess) unaware of the fact that he is possessed with the demon responsible for The Demon Nun (Bonnie Aarons – I Know Who Killed Me) who has just started a new murderous rampage in search of vengeance and another religious artifact.
Once again Maurice and Irene’s paths cross when the Vatican orders Irene to once again after this demon – something that she is reluctant to do. Her investigation is made even more dangerous when the rebellious Debra sneaks along to be by her side.
The Nun II is a film that is going to be savoured by true The Conjuring fans. Not only is it a good film but it actually does the unthinkable in the horror genre and is a much better film than the original. The Nun was okay and had a brilliant claustrophobic feel but with a more intriguing storyline and a meatier screenplay from a trio of screenwriters (who have titles such as M3gan, Malignant and Fear The Walking Dead under their belt) The Nun II is a far superior films.
The film overcomes a major setback with Demian Bichir not returning as the amazing Father Burke but rather than hindering the film, although the reason given for Burke not returning is kind of lame, this allows superior character growth for Irene who not only becomes a much stronger and interesting character as a result but also has some more Easter Eggs revealed about her character and how she fits into The Conjuring universe. Let’s just say there will be a lot of fan theories floating around after people have seen The Nun II.
This well written screenplay also allows for the characters around Irene to be given more characterisation as well. Maurice is portrayed in a completely different light, a real Dr Jekyll and My Hyde to be honest, while Kate and Sophie are developed in such away that the audience feels an affinity for them which just adds to the suspense when their lives are all put in danger.
The screenplay is brought to the screen remarkably well by Michael Chaves who not only uses the characterisation present in the screenplay to ramp up the suspense but also manages to make this a truly horrifying film that is going to impress even the most hardened horror fans. Little things like the wall of magazines and the amazing grand finale at the school are going to The Nun II a memorable film and shows that bringing on a whole new creative team to work alongside producer James Wan was probably a wise one.
Like she did in the first film Taissa Farmiga shines in the role of Irene with a strong performance while young Katelyn Rose Downey steals the limelight throughout the fan. As a young actress she is thrown into the deep end being part of some of the more horrifying scenes of the film and she delivers time and time again.
The Nun II is one of the genuine surprises of 2023. It is a film that is not only going to be embraced by fans of The Conjuring universe but is going to be universally loved by horror fans as a whole.
David’s rating Out Of 5
Lee Griffiths’ The Nun II Review
Lee’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s The Nun II Review
A genuinely creepy horror thriller, The Nun II harks back to The Nun (2018), which concerned a demonic sister named Valak running riot.
Well … it is now 1956 and she’s back, at her malevolent worst.
Valak terrifies adults and children alike.
And, again, the Vatican prevails on the person who was then on the threshold of her final vows and is now entrenched in the work of the church to exorcise the demon.
I speak of Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) who is called into service again following the fiery death of a priest in Tarascon in France.
Joining her is Sister Debra (Storm Reid), a strong and forthright novice who is questioning her own beliefs before taking this journey.
Their “adventure” sees them travel to a boarding school in Aix-en-Provence.
That is where the only other survivor (other than Sister Irene) who has faced Valak, Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), works as a maintenance man.
He has befriended a bright but bullied student, Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey), who has taken a shine to him.
Sophie’s mother Kate (Anna Popplewell) is a teacher at the school and she, too, warms to Maurice’s friendly and respectful manner.
It appears though that strange and frightening events are happening at this place, which threaten everyone’s wellbeing.
A fresh team of writers and a new director has been brought in for this sequel and the movie is better off for it.
I speak of Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing and Akela Cooper that have worked with the characters that James Wan and Gary Dauberman created.
Direction for The Nun II is from Michael Chaves, who was at the helm of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021).
This film is also in The Conjuring universe, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary.
There are several threads at play here, which take a while to work your way through until it becomes clear just what is going down.
I quite enjoyed the narrative arc and how events in one location connected with another.
At first, the scares are relatively selective, although the tropes of the horror thriller genre are evident throughout.
The darkness, the sound, the buildup to the nastiness are all well realised.
Towards the end, when we know who is who and what they are up to, matters take a considerable turn.
Evil is everywhere and there is no escaping it.
As far as I am concerned, the elongated finish is stretched beyond acceptances.
I have a “less is more” philosophical position and here the filmmakers have gone way over the top, throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at proceedings.
It all becomes pretty preposterous.
Until that point though, I found The Nun II involving and engaging.
I thought the lead actors all performed strongly; their characterisations were diverse and appealing.
Taissa Farmiga brings resilience to her role, while there is a no-nonsense attitude from Storm Reid.
Jonas Bloquet exudes decency, Katelyn Rose Downey is measured and Anna Popplewell reserved.
A foreboding air permeates the sequel, which is infinitely better than the original, but is let down in the run home. If not for that, I would certainly have given it a higher score.
While knowledge of the original is helpful, it is not essential. You can appreciate “chapter 2” without having viewed The Nun. Do stay on as the final credits roll because a surprise is in store.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
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