THE NUN II (2023) - Movie Review

Director: Michael Chaves
Starring: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, Bonnie Aarons, Katelyn Rose Downey, Suzanne Bertish
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Writer: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, Akela Cooper
Runtime: 110 min
Rated: Rated R for violent content and some terror
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), 4K Ultra HD (Amazon),Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

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.

Review:

A sequel to a spinoff, "The Nun II" is part of "The Conjuring" cinematic universe, and if you know anything about this particular franchise, you won't be surprised to learn that it's just more of the same old, same old.

The first film was atmospheric and had decent production values, but the lack of interesting story and characters dragged down an otherwise okay-ish horror flick. The sequel purports to fix the issues that plagued "The Nun", but it ends up being just as generic and forgettable. Sure, we get more plot, but it's so dull and tropey, you'll figure out where the story is headed, long before the big reveals happen. We get more characters, but what's the use when they're all thinly-written cliches, albeit embodied efficiently by good actors. Sometimes more isn't better.

It's still a great looking movie, well shot, with excellent art direction and visually exciting set pieces. I'm impressed with how much they achieve with only a $38-40 million budget. "The Nun II" is directed by Michael Chaves, a Conjuring veteran who previously helmed "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" and "The Curse of La Llorona". Those two films are arguably among the worst of the franchise, but like "The Nun II", they prove that Chaves does possess a certain technical prowess, keeping a tight grip on pacing and tone even when the storytelling falters.

"The Nun II" adheres to the tried and tested formula of modern jump-scare horror films. It's predictable and silly, mediocre and cliched, serviceable at best. But I will admit I didn't hate it. There's certainly a market for these kinds of movies, and they can be fun as long as you adjust your expectations. Is it better than the first ? In some ways it is, in others it isn't. But if you enjoyed "The Nun", you'll probably enjoy the sequel as well.

SCORE: 6/10