Since her chilling debut in The Conjuring 2, Valak, the sinister nun, has become an iconic figure of terror in the world of horror movies. The Nun II had a lot to match up to after the success of The Nun (2018), which introduced Valak into the Conjuring Universe. Unfortunately, the sequel directed by Michael Chaves falls short of creating the horror that had made The Nun unforgettable.
In the first film, a young nun named Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) had travelled to an abbey in Romania to investigate the mysterious deaths of nuns. Before long, she uncovered the presence of Valak (Bonnie Aarons), an evil force haunting the abbey. At the end of the movie, Valak remained undefeated, foreshadowing an impending showdown in the sequel.
The Nun II continues with the eerie, demonic presence of Valak — a towering figure whose beady yellow eyes and sharp teeth make you choke up in fear. The film picks up the strings four years later in France when the mysterious death of a priest forces the Vatican to request Sister Irene’s — who has been living in anonymity after the disturbing events of the previous film — services again.
Sister Irene’s investigation leads her to a boarding school, which happened to be an abbey in the past. Incidentally, Maurice (Jonas Bloquet), the groundskeeper who had saved Sister Irene’s life in the first film, works as a gardener here too. Irene deduces that it is Maurice who is possessed. As she sets out to save the boarders of the school from the evil forces, Irene stumbles upon secrets that could help her take Valak down.
One of the major issues with The Nun II is its lacklustre storytelling. While there’s an attempt to tie the loose ends and offer a backstory to Valak, the plot meanders and only gains momentum in the final act, leaving us waiting for the chills for most of the runtime.
New characters and subplots are added. Sister Irene has a new companion, Sister Debra (Storm Reid), who travels with her to France. Maurice shares a special bond with a student named Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey). But these details add little to the overall narrative and only detract from the suspense and tension that should be building.
The scares in The Nun II are also underwhelming. Bonnie Aarons, who lent a sinister quality to Valak in the first film, is much less terrifying in the sequel. The character’s motivations for harm remain unclear, diminishing the impact of her presence.
The Nun II relies heavily on in-universe references and connections, which may leave newcomers to the franchise feeling a bit lost. While it provides some recaps and flashbacks to help viewers catch up, the full enjoyment of the film requires a deep familiarity with the Conjuring Universe.
Perhaps the most significant letdown is the lack of meaningful progression in the story. After nearly two hours, the film circles back to a point close to from where it had started in The Nun. The sequel’s production design and cinematography are a saving grace though, as the gothic setting and visuals do create the atmospherics worthy of its predecessor.