With Conjuring in 2013, James Wan opened up a connected universe. After a sequel, and two spin-offs centered on the doll Annabelle, it is this time The Nun who has the right to her own film. The demon Valak had already terrorized viewers in the sequel to The Conjuring: The Warren Files. With Corin Hardy (The Sanctuary) behind the camera, the film returns to 1952 to tell the origins of this terrible demon, and explain how he came to confront the Warrens.
A very classic but relatively effective work
This spin-off was completely brought down, both by the press and by the spectators. However, even if the feature film is not overly original, it remains very effective. The Nun is a pop horror film, a blockbuster in disguise, which ultimately serves only to decorate the universe of its noble big brothers: the Conjuring. But Warner Bors' desire to open horizons with the Conjuring universe is not necessarily silly. Valak is still very imposing and remains a first-class demon. The sets are chilling. An isolated and degraded Romanian abbey in the middle of the forest is a sufficient place to enhance fears.
So Valak is in his element. Certainly Corin Hardy does not reach the mastery of James Wan, and plays a lot on jump scares. But for all that, even if it lacks renewal, they remain relatively effective, well dosed, without too much fuss. The Nun is not a blood-curdling horror movie, but more of a blockbuster disguised to make teenagers scream. Still, the director offers some beautiful shots, some strong and symbolic images that mark the pupil and the spirits. The story is certainly not very original and simply confronts a Vatican demonologist with the great demon. Similarly the characters lack thickness, but finally the horror effects work, and the viewer does not miss the whole projection.
The Nun is not up to the Conjuring
Despite its entertaining aspect, The Nun does not reach the quality of the two Conjuring, closer to the clumsiness of the two Annabelle films and their sometimes wobbly scenarios. However, The Nun is much more effective than the films about the killer doll. Still, the feature film would have gained in quality if the director had really taken the time to create an unhealthy and oppressive atmosphere rather than resting on his setting, his demon and his jump scares. Corin Hardy does not really take the time to expose all his issues and especially to tell the story of Valak in a credible way. The Conjuring sometimes played on the "realistic" aspect of their story, especially the second opus, claiming that these are real facts, creating an additional identity to the film. We believe it or not, but James Wan was trying to give a real identity to this aspect inspired by real facts, creating a higher horrific spring. The Nun takes the same approach, but unlike The Conjuring, at no point does the viewer believe for a second that these events could have really happened. This is where the film really fails: by its too blockbuster aspect to be credible. When, besides that, films like Veronica chilled the blood precisely for this real spring, inspired by real facts.
The outcome of The Nun does not go in his direction. A rather messy wave of action comes to conclude quickly and without any other form of trial this abracadabrantesque story. Remains this final shot that once again connects The Nun to the rest of the saga. It's a shame since Corin Hardy nevertheless has good ideas for situations, offering chilling shots, but also striking situations, embellished with beautiful photography and successful special effects.
Finally this spin-off/prequel is not the announced purge. So certainly the feature film lacks originality and the characters are relatively bland, but the horror effects work perfectly, and the strong images full of symbolism are impressive. Efficient and entertaining.
