In The Conjuring 2, we watched as Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) go head to head with Valik, a dark entity who appears in the form of an evil nun. In The Nun, which arrived on Blu-ray and DVD Tuesday, we witness the origin story of Valik.
Father Burke (Demián Bichir) is tasked by the Vatican with investigating the suicide of a nun and the dark goings-on at a remote abbey in Romania. Father Burke is assigned a companion for his journey, young Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga). Once they arrive they are taken to the abbey by the young man (Jonas Bloquet) who discovered the sister’s decaying body, still hanging by the neck. The three set out to uncover the secrets that the ancient convent holds.
I was more than excited and raced right to the movie section of my local Wal-Mart to snag a copy. After waiting all day the night set in and I snuggled into bed in my favorite PJs (the Jack Skellington ones) and hit play. Things got spooky early on in the movie. I am happy to report that I really enjoyed The Nun. It’s one of the better films in The Conjuring Universe that include The Conjuring 1 & 2, Annabelle 1 & 2, The Nun, and several upcoming sequels to multiple films. Surprisingly, the fright factor went far beyond jump scares. Director Corin Hardy did well with building tension. And the special effects, good job team! They are realistic, gory, and executed so well.
The location itself is simply stunning. In real life, the local is actually a fortress. It’s dark and gothic, and the craftsmanship in the building and its interior is so beautifully detailed. To add to the spook factor, Hardy spoke out a few months ago revealing that the location is haunted, claiming to have seen multiple ghosts there himself while filming.
The characters in the movie are interesting and extremely well played. Bichir’s portrayal of a priest who struggles to come to terms with his past while saving his companions and fighting evil is top-notch. Farmiga stands out as Sister Irene, she’s sympathetic, kind, innocent, strong, and Farmiga makes you believe it. The woman can act. Jonas Bloquet accomplished exactly what he needed for his character “Frenchie”. At first “Frenchie” comes off like an immature sleaze, but turns out to be a decent guy. “Frenchy’s” fate is actually revealed during the classroom scene in The Conjuring. Last, but certainly not least, Bonnie Aarons kills it as Valik. She is so very creepy.
The Nun is a great addition to The Conjuring Universe. It’s everything you want in a horror film, though gorehounds may not be completely satisfied. It made even this horror veteran jump a time or two.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see at least one spin-off from The Nun, though they did leave room for three, Frenchie’s story, the possession, and death that haunts Father Burke, and the man who originally conjured Valik. Honestly, I wouldn’t complain about seeing any of them.
Now that you’ve heard my 5 out of 5 verdicts, go grab your own copy of The Nun which is now out on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital, from Warner Bros. It’s worth seeing more than once.
