The Nun

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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To paraphrase, “There was a demon inside the painting that I saw and it is real.” So says actor Vera Farmiga at the start of “The Nun,” the creepy atmospheric spin-off of “The Conjuring 2.” The film, directed by Corin Hardy with excellent visuals and a solid cast headed by Taissa Farmiga (the younger sister of Vera Farmiga), seems to be aiming for the glory days of the old Hammer films of the late 1960s and 70s. Unfortunately, it plays too campy to be taken seriously and too flat to be a fun ride. At times it seems a bit like “Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein”.

The film relies heavily on jump scares and after about six of these, it (almost) becomes more a matter of comedy than fright. We are in Catholic territory here and a guilt-ridden priest Fr. Burke (Demian Bichir) has been summoned by The Vatican to investigate a nun’s suicide. Burke in turn asks Sister Irene (Farmiga) to help. Irene is a nun in training who has yet to take her solemn vows.

On the surface of it, this has the makings of a compelling chiller: a weary priest and a buoyant idealist could have opened up matters of faith and the power of belief. But instead the film plays it safe and cornily as everything quickly becomes “Eeek! O, Dear God! Ahh!“ and “Pray!” The horrors center on a demonic spirit named Valak who looks a bit like Marilyn Manson in make-up, which is viscerally creepy.

But far too many peppery poltergeists spoil this broth. The abrupt jolts are so formulaic in the manner of hide and seek that the film quickly loses its grasp.A bit of camp is had when the young guide Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet) walks into a bar with a huge cross or when Fr. Burke desperately clutches his holy weapons to fight mayhem and malevolence. Also there is a fun battle of wills at the end pitting Sister Irene versus the powers of darkness. While not quite terror-inducing, this singular climax has a matinee power that is entertaining.

As a meaningful horror film “The Nun” misses its red letter day, but for those craving more of a generic “Creature Feature,” some silent and overwhelmed sisters of the cloth will give you the required shrieks.

Write Ian at ianfree11@yahoo.com