The next chapter in The Conjuring cinematic universe takes us back to 1952 for the origin of The Conjuring 2‘s iconic antagonist!
In 1952, two nuns living at the Saint Cartha monastery in Romania are attacked by an unseen entity while searching for an ancient relic. After one of the nuns is dragged into darkness, the surviving nun hangs herself and is later discovered by the abbey’s deliveryman, Maurice “Frenchie” Theriault (Jonas Bloquet). After learning of the incident, the Vatican asks Father Burke (Demian Bichir) to investigate with the assistance of Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), who has not yet taken her vows. After arriving in Romania, Frenchie guides the pair to the monastery informing them of the superstitious beliefs of the nearby villagers. A series of supernatural and terrifying events occur once the trio arrive at the monastery. Using their faith as a weapon, Father Burke, Sister Irene, and Frenchie take on the most sinister figure in The Conjuring cinematic universe, Valak.
I have been a huge fan of The Conjuring universe since the first film came out in 2013. Some films have been better than others, but I’ve enjoyed them all. I love that We have the core group of films based off the Warrens’ interactions with the supernatural (The Conjuring films) and spin-offs based on entities in the original films (the Annabelle films). Now we have The Nun, featuring the most terrifying antagonist in The Conjuring universe…Valak.
Robert Englund will forever be synonymous with Freddy Krueger, and I believe Bonnie Aarons (The Princess Diaries) can reach that magnitude with continuation of Valak films. Aarons delivers an incredible performance as the demonic nun that terrified audiences in The Conjuring 2. Despite having little dialogue in the film, Aarons’ facial features make her the perfect candidate for the role of Valak. Viewers may notice a slight change to Valak’s appearance as well. In The Conjuring 2 the demonic nun’s face was predominantly white, but in The Nun Valak has a pale-complexioned, veiny face that utilizes Aarons’ natural features. I also love the casting of Taissa Farmiga (TV’s American Horror Story) as Sister Irene. Fans of The Conjuring films should recognize her last name. She is the younger sister of actress Vera Farmiga, who is excellent as antagonist and clairvoyant Lorraine Warren. Like her older sister, Farmiga does an incredible job portraying a character audiences feel connected to. From her introduction in the film, the audience can see that Irene not the average novitiate (the stage before taking religious vows). She is unafraid to express her faith differently from other nuns and uses a special “gift” she was born with to assist her in battle against Valak. If we are given another Nun film I really hope the character Sister Irene and involvement of Farmiga continues.
Often, horror movies are as strong as their setting and The Nun‘s does not disappoint. Set in 1952 Romania, I love that the filmmakers wanted to use real Romanian landmarks as the home of Valak, and in Transylvania of all places! The primary location in the film is the Cartha monastery, but the real Cartha is nothing but facades and ruins which led to Corvin Castle acting as Cartha for the film. The gothic-renaissance castle is one of the largest in Europe and is said to have once housed Vlad the Impaler as a prisoner, a prince known for his cruelty. Today’s horror films rarely use gothic settings like their classic predecessors, but The Nun really utilizes the stunning and gloomy features offered by Corvin Castle and the medieval, subterranean tunnels of Romania. While filming director Corin Hardy spotted a handprint in some dust, which he believes belonged to a ghost. Also, Hardy had a Catholic priest bless the set before filming began.
Special Features:
- A New Horror Icon
- The Conjuring Chonology
- Gruesome Planet
- Deleted Scenes (10 Minutes)
While there have been some mixed reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed The Nun. Valak has the makings of a villain that audiences will want to follow for years, and I am hopeful for a sequel. If you’re a fan of the The Conjurig universe or love horror films, The Nun should be added to your collection.
