Reviews for The Nun II are out, and critics are mixed on the latest installment in The Conjuring universe. Directed by Michael Chaves and with a screenplay written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and Akela Cooper, the movie sees Taissa Farmiga reprise her role as Sister Irene, four years after the events of the first film, where Valak returns to haunt a boarding school in France. The 2018 original, The Nun, was a critical failure and is often cited as one of the low points of the Conjuring franchise, despite a considerable success at the box office.
Critics have now begun to share their thoughts on The Nun 2, and the reception is much better than the original. As of this writing, the movie currently holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, compared to The Nun‘s dismal 24%. Check out some of the early reviews via several excerpts below:
Tom Jorgensen, IGN
The specifics of The Nun II’s mythology-heavy plot breeze by too fast to give the movie as much weight as it could’ve had, but on a visceral level, it’s both inventive with and reverent to Valak’s menace. Moving the action to a boarding school full of scared kids amps up the stakes, with no character (except Frenchie) ever feeling completely safe. Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet make Irene and Frenchie a pair worthy of the Warrens, and director Michael Chaves keeps that heart in focus even while adding to Valak’s considerable reputation.
Dennis Harvey, Variety
Defying the law of diminishing returns, 2018’s spinoff “The Nun” was (and so far remains) the franchise’s biggest hit to date. Ergo enter “The Nun II,” a direct sequel. In some respects an improvement on its predecessor, in others not, this is finally one more good-enough if unmemorable entry sure to extend the series’ life in lucrative fashion.
Samantha Coley, Collider
With its tight script, well-balanced characters, and bone-chilling scares, The Nun II is the first Conjuring spinoff operating at the same caliber as the franchise’s core films, proving that this universe is far from played out.
Ben Travis, Empire
The result is a middle-of-the-table Conjuring universe film — one unlikely to make a dent in horror history, but well-constructed, with moments of inventive imagery, and that continues to cement Akela Cooper as a writer with a clear eye for freaky fun. Enough, in short, to ensure it’s worth getting thee to a nunnery.
Ryan Gilbey, The Guardian
You would think an entity that could travel across dimensions and continents in the blink of a glowing yellow eye might not be restricted to a solitary party trick. You know the one: loitering in the shadows until someone clocks her, then flashing her fangs and shooting forward with that irritating hissing sound. That’s it? That’s all she’s got? In neglecting to vary her routine, she is not unlike the film-makers behind this ninth visit to the Conjuring universe – although “universe” is a misleadingly large word for a franchise that is impoverished in all but its box-office gross.
Megan Navarro, Bloody Disgusting
The Nun II is deceptive in that it offers more of the same but swaps out atmosphere for a busier body count, expansive set pieces, and crowded plotting. That alone will be enough for those seeking scares and a few extra details behind the divine and demonic powers of Sister Irene and her blasphemous foe. But the more crowded sequel struggles to maintain Valak’s sinister presence and the scare crafting. It also squeezes out the characters themselves as the mythology takes center stage.
Simon Thompson, Forbes
The Nun II is one of the better films in the Conjuring Universe and certainly one of the best spin-off features in the series. Well-constructed, deftly executed scares and a few creative choices that elevate even the more expected frights make this a winner overall. Not only does The Nun II cement Valek as a titan of terror who fills the film’s dark heart, but the character feels more fully realized than ever beyond just looking cool and creepy.
Tessa Smith, Mama’s Geeky
The Nun 2 is filled with jump scares, horrific visuals, and two great storylines that even better when they collide. The actors have great chemistry — new and returning alike — which helps to take the movie to where it needs to be. Valak is scary and this time we get to have a lot of fun with her. There are insane visuals that will stick with you for a while, and possibly haunt your dreams.
Ian Sandwell, Digital Spy
Frustrations aside, The Nun II is still a significant improvement on the first movie and one of the stronger Conjuring spin-offs. If there is a next time though, then they really need to just let Valak be Valak.
Eric Eisenberg, CinemaBlend
After 10 years and nine films, The Conjuring Universe has one of the strongest track records in horror movie history, and The Nun 2 contributes positively to that legacy. While there are worse examples of it in 2023 alone, the movie does suffer a bit from being a middle chapter, as it feels held back by its own canon in some respects, but it certainly capitalizes on a wonderful protagonist in Taissa Farmiga’s Sister Irene and serves up a sweet dose of scares to kick off spooky season.
What The Nun II Reviews Tell Us About The Movie
While some critics weren’t impressed by the film’s lack of originality, especially regarding jumpscares, most agree that The Nun II is an improvement upon the first. Some have even said it’s one of the better Conjuring films released recently. However, The Guardian‘s Ryan Gilbey wasn’t as enthused about the movie as some of the other reviews cited, vilifying it for its predictability in trying to scare the audience.
Most critics also agree that Farmiga gives a compelling performance as Sister Irene, highlighting Valak as one of the scariest creatures this franchise has offered so far. Another review praised Cooper’s writing for the movie, cementing her as one of the best horror screenwriters working today. Cooper recently wrote M3GAN and James Wan’s Malignant, which critics and audiences widely praised for their balance in delivering effective frights while being incredibly fun to watch.
Reviews also discussed Chaves’ directing, who has helmed the most installments of the franchise so far with The Curse of La Llorona and The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It alongside The Nun II. Many reviews have discussed how he’s most assured here, from a technical point of view, even if the scares themselves could be considered predictable. Should The Nun II be a commercial success, it would be no surprise if The Nun III gets greenlit.
Key Release Dates
The Nun II
Release Date:2023-09-08
