We headed to Cineworld to check out The Nun II IMAX screening as the next chapter in the story of The Nun which now takes us to 1956 in France where a priest is murdered and the Evil of Valak is spreading.
“The Nun II” has several scenes that certainly have a chilling atmosphere. Building upon the eerie mythology established in its predecessor, this sequel dives deeper into the haunting world of Valak, the demon nun.
The Nun II IMAX is directed by Michael Chaves, the haunting abbey becomes a character in itself, exuding a sense of malevolence that permeates every scene. The dimly lit corridors, creaking doors, and shadowy figures lurking in the background create a palpable sense of dread.
The cast delivers some good performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their roles. Taissa Farmiga returns as Sister Irene, showcasing her vulnerability and strength in the face of unimaginable horrors. The chemistry among the ensemble cast, including Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, and Bonnie Aarons, adds layers to the narrative and elevates the overall tension.
One of the film’s strongest elements is its cinematography by Tristan Nyby and skilful editing, “The Nun II” is a slow-burning film and although we do get some of those spooky moments of Valak coming from out of the shadows, there isn’t that much in the film that made me jump, which I was disappointed with.
But the skilful use of sound design and a haunting score by Marco Beltrami adds to the unease, amplifying the fear factor and the hope that something is going to happen that is going to have you jumping, but sadly they never arrive.
While the movie does rely on some familiar horror tropes, it never really brings us the scares that we would expect and The Nun II become very much of a thriller with Sister Irene as a Nun detective trying to find out why Valak is back.
I was pretty excited to hear that Michel Chaves was back in the franchise after The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, but this sequel to the 2008 movie just didn’t give me the vibes that those movies did and for me the franchise still has;t topped The Conjuring (2013).
The Nun II IMAX thoughts
The Nun II is optimised for IMAX screens, so you don’t get an aspect change, but the sound certainly booms out and the quiet scenes are perfect as you could hear a pin drop or in most cases some weird creepy sounds in the rear speakers. Great to see on the big screen, but it’s a choice to see it in IMAX or not.
Does The Nun II have a post-credit scene?
Yes, there is a post-credit scene in The Nun II. We are taken to the house of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Taissa’s sister Vera Farmiga, from 2013’s The Conjuring and its two immediate sequels.
Ed is informed on the phone that Father Gordon (a priest played in The Conjuring Universe by Steve Coulter) has an emergency. Ed shares a knowing look with Lorraine and then speaks into the phone. “Yes, father,” he says. “How can we help?”
This scene seems to be that Father Gordon is calling about Maurice and we may see this case in the upcoming The Conjuring: Last Rites.
The Nun II is out now in UK Cinemas, if you are a fan of the franchise then it’s worth seeing the movie on the big screen rather than a small screen as many of the scenes are so dark that you need a good screen to see all the details on.
“The Conjuring” Universe is the highest-grossing horror franchise in history with $2+ billion worldwide. Globally, four of “The Conjuring” Universe titles have earned more than $300 million worldwide each (“The Nun,” $366 million; “The Conjuring 2,” $322 million; “The Conjuring,” $320 million; “Annabelle: Creation,” $307 million), and all seven have each grossed more than $200 million.
The Nun II doesn't have the scares!
Movie title: The Nun II (2023)
Movie description: 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.
Date published: September 8, 2023
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 50m
Director(s): Michael Chaves
Actor(s): Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Summary
The Nun II isn’t the best movie in the Conjuring Universe franchise, but it works as a sequel to the 2018 movie and a branch to The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
