Logan Sork Film Reviews
The Nun
Being a fan of the previous Conjuring films, I thought I had some idea of what to expect when going into the latest entry in the franchise The Nun. I thought I would be seeing a scary film, one that would fit in with today’s modern horror films, much like the other entries have. What I found instead was a film that was more on the spooky side, one that would fit in well with the classic gothic horror films of the 1930’s and 40’s. This film is a callback to horror films in years past, a welcome change of pace from the modern horror films. However, if you don’t really enjoy the films of that era, The Nun may leave some viewers deeply unsatisfied.
The Nun is directed by Corin Hardy and stars Taissa Farmiga and Damian Bichir as a catholic initiate and a priest who are sent by the Vatican to investigate the suicide of a nun at the Abbey of St. Carta in the hills of Romania. When the two arrive, they are accompanied by a guide, who tells them that no one in the village really wants to acknowledge the existence of the abbey. Hearing this, they decide to investigate the mysteries of the abbey while also finding out why the young nun took her life. During their investigation, they encounter forces that are darker beyond anyone’s imagination.
The best element of the film is by far in a way the atmosphere. The locations are simply amazing, with ancient castles and dark shadows, all covered in an eerie shroud of fog and darkness during nightfall. The abbey and its surrounding village really give off an aura of mystery and darkness. This location and overall look that the film has is a welcome departure from the usual creepy house that dwells within most other contemporary horror films. The look of the film is similar to classic monster films like Frankenstein and Dracula with its towering gothic churches looming overhead and its dimly lit caverns and tunnels, beckoning visitors to walk their halls… if they dare. The films cinematography and sets provide the viewer with an amazing visual feast for the eyes, while providing a creepy atmosphere that makes up for the lack of scares.
That being said, the lack of genuine scares can be a problem for some. There are a few genuine freighting moments in the film, but aside from that it mainly utilizes the atmosphere and location for effect. This can be a problem for some viewers who are more accustomed to horror films having an overabundance of scares. I however find the focus on atmosphere to be a welcome change, though I wouldn’t mind a few more scares as it would have done even more to improve the atmosphere of the film.
The story within the film is okay. The mystery that is presented in the initial set up is interesting and different, however it is solved relatively quickly, leaving time for more atmosphere and scares. I feel that if the film had a longer running time and more time for the characters to solve the mystery, I feel it would have been a stronger film. There are however some genuine twists that I didn’t see coming, one of which ties in very well with the rest of the films in the franchise. There are also some genuinely funny moments in the film, they aren’t laugh out loud moments, but they really help show the characters as people rather than standard cutouts.
As for the characters, they are all entertaining in their own ways. The most developed out of the main trio is the priest, whose dark past haunts him for most of the film, and really provides the notion that even he doubts the catholic. The novitiate provides the film with a sense of innocence and true faith, one that is needed to defeat the evil demon. The tour guide provided the film with an outsider view on the situation, as well as comedic moments that mostly land. As for the title character, whenever she takes charge onscreen, she easily provides the film with its best moments.
In the end, The Nun is a very good film. It’s not great or terrible, but it is extremely enjoyable if you like gothic atmospheres and fun characters. The films story could’ve been told better, I think a longer run time would have done the film better in the end. Those who like their films filled with hardcore scares will probably be disappointed, but for viewers who are fans of the gothic horror sub genre and the previous Conjuring films, you will surely enjoy what The Nun has to offer.
7/10