Do you remember the 2018 Conjuring spin-off, The Nun? No, neither do I. The film was obviously a success, otherwise Warner Bros wouldn’t produce this sequel, which continues the story set up in the original film. If you can’t remember that film, then you are going to be a little confused, for while this could probably be watched without any previous knowledge, there are moments when knowing what happen will make the film have more sense. Yet that doesn’t matter either, as this is a film that you only really need to know one thing, it’s a bore.

Sister Irene, the survivor of battling with the evil demon Valak, is living a quiet life in a nunnery when the church calls for her assistance after a group of priests have died in mysterious circumstances. With the help of novice nun Sister Debra, they head to a boarding school in France, where strange things have been occurring and where a past friend of Irene could hold the key to the demon’s return.

These movies (including all in the Conjuring universe) have the right idea for a spooky night: atmospheric settings, moody lighting, solid soundscapes. The problem with these films are they are repetitive and predictable. Thinking of all the best horror films, they work on so many levels, whether it be connections with the characters, or unsettling and eerie camerawork. They don’t all rely on the rules set by these films that, when the scares do come, they don’t scare anymore.

Like the slasher horror movies had their own rules, these movies have created their own. Every time there is somewhere dark or where a shadow could lurk, you know there is going to be something jumping out on you. Something will jump out when the music drops to almost a murmur or stops altogether. When a character who hasn’t been fully developed goes into somewhere they shouldn’t, you know they will die grisly or nasty. The Nun II ticks these boxes.

It is a shame, as these films often drop in a decent idea or two. In this one, there is a scene in which Sister Irene comes face-to-face with a magazine stand where the pages blow at speed, producing faces that eventually build to the shape of the notorious nun. An impressive moment spoilt by having yet another jump scare. Then we get the finale, which includes what I can only describe as a rehash of the bridge scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!

Where modern horror directors and franchises fail on the horror side is they don’t really understand the rules of horror. It’s not about just going “boo!” It’s not even delivering buckets of blood, guts and gore. Take a lesson from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, the notorious 1974 horror film. Watching that back, there is very little gore, hardly any jump scares, yet it is still terrifying. Why? It’s the unease you feel watching it. The grainy film stock, the ear-piercing soundtrack and that sense of impending doom leave most of the horror off-screen and let our imagination run riot.

The cast all do their best, with Taissa Farmiga returning as Sister Irene and Jonas Bloquet as Maurice from the first film. The rest of the cast is serviceable, but if you do see the movie, you may be scratching your head about where you have seen the teacher, Kate. Played by Anna Popplewell, she starred in the Chronicles of Narnia as Susan, the older sister. Trust me, it will bother you throughout the film.

The Nun II isn’t a disaster nor a bad enough movie to lend it one star. It’s not a good horror movie and becomes tiresome and dull after the opening credit scene. Maybe it is time to end the Conjuring franchise and let the directors out to watch proper horror films and see where they can go right.

2 out of 5

Director: Michael Chavers

Starring: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell, Bonnie Aarons, Katelyn Rose Downey, Suzanne Bertish, Léontine d’Oncieu

Written by: Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, (also story) Akela Cooper, (based on the characters created by) James Wan and Gary Dauberman

Running Time: 110 mins

Cert: 15

Release date: 8th September 2023