This supernatural prequel spin-off from The Conjuring franchise is set decades before an evil spook began to haunt ghost-hunter Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga). When a nun commits suicide at a cloistered abbey in Biertan, Romania, in 1952, Father Anthony Burke (Demián Bichir) is summoned to Rome and then sent to investigate the sacred sanctuary, accompanied by a young novitiate, Sister Irene (Vera’s real-life sister Taissa Farmiga), who has occult visions. Taking a horse-drawn buggy to the dark, dank Abbey of St. Carta, a bombed-out medieval castle shunned by the superstitious villagers, the pair are joined by Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), a French-Canadian man who discovered the gruesome corpse while delivering supplies. What apparently happened was that two nuns confronted a demonic presence in a forbidden corner of the ancient building that serves as an apparent portal to Hell (a sign proclaims: “God Ends Here”). One nun was consumed by darkness while the other hung herself, still clutching a mysterious key. The skeletal Abbess, whose face remains hidden behind a dark veil, isn’t much help, nor are the other screaming, terrified nuns, some of whom are set on fire, jangling their rosary beads in a prayer marathon. Directed by Corin Hardy, The Nun is a derivative horror flick, relying on old-fashioned jump scares, crosses swiveling upside-down, radios turning themselves on-and-off, writhing serpents, and menacing shadows. Only Bonnie Aarons is malevolently memorable as the titular, villainous Valak. Still, the film’s popularity proves once again that even bad horror movies can conjure big box-office returns. Optional. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include the behind-the-scenes featurette “A New Horror Icon” (5 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are deleted scenes (12 min.), the production segments “Gruesome Planet” (6 min.) and “The Conjuring Chronology (4 min.), and bonus DVD and digital copies of the film. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a lame horror flick.] (S. Granger)
The Nun
Warner, 96 min., R, DVD: $28.98, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $35.99, Dec. 4 Volume 34, Issue 1
The Nun
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