Ten years ago producer/director James Wan (Saw) introduced The Conjuring to the world. Based on the true story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, it followed a demon who put a curse on the land where she died. Since that first film premiered, there have been seven other movies in the franchise including 2018's The Nun. This September its sequel, The Nun II, opened worldwide and made $268 million, despite receiving mixed reviews from critics. Two months later Warner Bros. will release The Nun II in 4K on November 14, 2023.
If one remembers, at the end of The Nun, the Demon, Valak, is supposedly sealed once again in the depths of Saint Cartha's monastery in Romania. However, when a series of mysterious deaths occur across Europe, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga; The Bling Ring) is asked to travel to a French boarding school to investigate. Upon arrival at the school, Sister Irene is reunited with Frenchie/Maurice (Jonas Bloquet; 3 Days to Kill) but quickly realizes Maurice is possessed by Valak, who is trying to find St. Lucy's eyes, a powerful relic. Once Valak gets the relic, the demon tries to burn Sister Irene, but can't because she is a descendant of the Saint.
Even though critics didn't love The Nun II, they didn't hate it either and many felt, as I did, that it was better than the first film. Director Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It) starts the film with plenty of energy and continues the pacing throughout the duration of the movie. Farmiga and Bloquet are both very good as they return these familiar characters and they are joined by up-and-coming actress Storm Reid (Euphoria), who adds some humor to the mix.
The 2160p resolution with the 2.39:1 aspect ratio offers viewers excellent video quality without losing the feeling of being transported back in time to 1950s France. The on-location shoots utilize the impressive architecture of the history-rich country and come across on screen beautifully. The special effects are extremely well done, from the goat-like creature that comes to life and terrorizes the boarding school attendees to the fire that engulfs Sister Irene but does not burn her alive.
The Dolby Atmos audio is the real star as far as the technology aspects are concerned. The atmospheric elements bounce from speaker to speaker as if they are moving across the room. The subwoofers pick up the low-frequency tones while the height speakers replicate sounds as if there was actually a creature in the room, crawling over the entire ceiling.
The combo pack includes the 4K disc and the digital download and the only extras included with this combo pack are The Nun II: Demons In Paradise and Handcrafter Nightmares. While both are interesting and show some of the behind-the-scenes work that was done, they total 12 minutes which is slightly disappointing. It would have been nice to see some deleted/extended scenes, perhaps a fun little gag reel, and more interviews with the cast.
As previously mentioned, the second installment of The Nun series and the eighth film in the Conjuring Universe overall, The Nun II has a lot to offer audiences regarding plot, acting, and effects. The 4K version of the movie is very well done and the storyline leaves viewers wanting more - though only time will tell if we will get a trilogy out of Sister Irene and Frenchie.
If you love horror films, especially those that include demonic possession, The Nun II will be right up your alley. If you own the other movies in The Conjuring franchise, you will also want to pick up this 4K set. If you don't own any of the eight films, I suggest you pick them all up, especially The Nun II, in stores on November 14, 2023.
Grade: B-
