Article Key Points
The Nun 2 is a scary and clever addition to The Conjuring franchise, exploring the origins and motivations of the terrifying villain Valak.
The film introduces a new relic called the Eyes of Saint Lucy, adding to the world of the Conjuring Universe. Despite mixed reviews, The Nun 2 is generally agreed upon by the audience to be an improvement over the first installment. It delivers thrilling jump scares and a climactic showdown between Irene and Valak.
The Nun 2 is the latest addition to The Conjuring Universe, a popular horror franchise. Serving as a sequel to the 2018 spin-off film The Nun, it continues the story of Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga) as she confronts the malevolent Valak (played by Bonnie Aarons), a demonic nun causing chaos throughout Europe. Set in 1956, the movie delves into Valak's dark past, explores Irene's ancestry, and hints at what lies ahead for The Conjuring Universe. Not only is The Nun 2 a chilling and thrilling horror film, but it also cleverly connects to the broader narrative of The Conjuring films through a captivating mid-credits scene.
What is The Nun 2 about?
In The Nun 2, Sister Irene, now serving in an Italian convent, is joined by novice Sister Debra (Storm Reid), who grapples with her faith. The Vatican sends a team to investigate a series of mysterious deaths occurring across Europe, all linked to Valak, the malevolent nun who previously haunted Irene in Romania. The team embarks on a journey to a boarding school in France, where they encounter Maurice (played by Jonas Bloquet), also known as Frenchie, from the first film. Maurice, working as a groundskeeper, harbors a secret possession by Valak, the demonic entity. Along their path, they cross paths with Kate (Anna Popplewell) and her daughter Sophie (Katelyn Rose Downey), both under the dangerous influence of Valak.
Introducing to the Conjuring Universe, The Nun 2 presents a new relic: the Eyes of Saint Lucy, concealed within the school's chapel. Saint Lucy, a martyr who was burned at the stake by Protestants and had her eyes gouged out, possessed divine power within her eyes, which Valak seeks to become invincible. Irene experiences visions of Saint Lucy's martyrdom and Valak's involvement, discovering her direct lineage to the saint and her inherited abilities as a medium. She also learns of her connection to another renowned medium in The Conjuring Universe, Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga), portrayed by Taissa Farmiga's real-life sister.
What is The Nun 2's Rotten Tomatoes score?
The Nun 2 has received a mixed response from both critics and audiences. It holds a 52% score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 132 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. According to critics, while the film is scarier than its predecessor, it is not the most original horror sequel and still manages to be an entertaining addition to the Conjuring franchise. On the other hand, the movie has an audience score of 73%, based on over 1,000 verified ratings, with an average rating of 3.8/5. The audience agrees that The Nun II is better than the first one, compensating for its average storyline with a multitude of thrilling jump scares.
How does The Nun 2 end?
In the finale of The Nun 2, Irene and Valak engage in a dramatic confrontation within the chapel. Valak seizes the precious Eyes of Saint Lucy from Irene, escalating its strength exponentially. In a desperate attempt to eliminate Irene, Valak endeavors to ignite her, yet Irene emerges from the ordeal unscathed, defying the odds through her unwavering faith and profound connection with Saint Lucy.
Irene and Debra utilize their prayers to transform the wine barrels in the chapel into the blood of Christ, causing Valak to be engulfed in flames and banished back to hell. Eventually, Maurice is freed from Valak's possession and he deeply regrets putting Kate and Sophie in danger. As they depart together, Irene watches with a comforting relief, knowing they are now secure and content.
Does The Post-Credits Hint For Conjuring 4?
The Nun 2 does not include a post-credits scene, but it does offer a mid-credits scene that provides a glimpse into the future of the franchise. In this scene, we see an establishing shot of Ed and Lorraine Warren's residence in Connecticut, with their mailbox prominently displayed. As the scene unfolds, a phone starts ringing, and Ed Warren answers the call, which is from Father Gordon (Steve Coulter). Once again, the priest seeks the assistance of the Warrens to deal with another supernatural occurrence.
The franchise seeks to further incorporate itself into the main Conjuring movies through this approach. In the first part of The Nun, there was a connection to the Warrens at the end by utilizing footage from the original film, The Conjuring. The Nun 2 continues to suggest that the stories of the Warrens and Sister Irene are intertwined, though the implications for the future may leave some confused.
The mid-credits scene sets the stage for The Conjuring 4, which has recently been announced as The Conjuring: Last Rites. This fourth installment may delve into Valak's backstory as a fallen angel who defied God and became a demon. It may also shed light on how Valak encountered Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring 2 and what its intentions are towards her. The Nun 2 hints at a potential connection between Irene and Lorraine, which could also factor into The Conjuring 4. Irene might join forces with Lorraine and Ed Warren (played by Patrick Wilson) to permanently thwart Valak.
Editor's P/S
1. In my opinion, The Nun 2 is a thrilling addition to The Conjuring franchise. It successfully explores the origins and motivations of the terrifying villain Valak, while also introducing a new relic, the Eyes of Saint Lucy, which adds depth to the world of the Conjuring Universe. Despite mixed reviews from critics, the audience generally agrees that The Nun 2 is an improvement over the first installment, delivering thrilling jump scares and a climactic showdown between Irene and Valak.
2. The mid-credits scene in The Nun 2 hints at the future of The Conjuring Universe, and I am excited to see where the franchise goes next. The scene reveals that Valak is still alive and well, and it seems that she will continue to be a threat to Irene and the Warrens. I am also curious to learn more about the Eyes of Saint Lucy and how they will play a role in future films. Overall, I enjoyed The Nun 2 and I am looking forward to seeing more from The Conjuring Universe.