An intense new addition to The Conjuring timeline, The Nun is one of the most horrifying movies to be released. The seventh movie in the series, it spares no expense when it comes to audience scares.  

The Nun takes the already familiar Conjuring horror formula and expands it. The plot of The Nun centers on an abbey in Romania where a young nun takes her own life after discovering a dark force feeding from within the walls of her monastery. Frenchie (Jonas Bolquet) discovers the body of the nun weeks later, and alerts the Vatican of his discovery. A renowned priest, Father Anthony Burke (Demian Bichir) and a young novice training to be a nun, Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), travel to Romania in hopes of discovering why a nun would commit the ultimate sin of suicide. Once they arrive, it is evident that something is awry, as they encounter the demon nun Valek (Bonnie Aarons) and must fight for their survival.

Within the first few minutes of The Nun, several jump scares catch the viewer off guard, and serve to set the tone for the rest of the movie. Personally, I found myself scared continuously, waiting for a shock as a character slowly crept down a long hallway. The theater was constantly filled with audience members’ screams and the tension caused by the film was evident.

Another standout feature of The Nun are the connections that it establishes with the previous films. Several “Easter eggs” and hints can be found relating The Nun to movies like The Conjuring or Annabelle. This attention to detail can only be discovered by dedicated watchers with keen eyes, and is amazing for long time fans of the franchise.

Unlike many other horror movies, The Nun somehow allows the viewer to connect to the characters as we watch them suffer through horrors inside the walls of the abbey. Moreover, the setting evokes even more fear, harking back to many childhood gothic fears of “old rundown buildings” and what lies inside. Those watching can identify with Burke and Isabelle as they navigate the winding halls of the monastery in search of salvation.

The plot of the story also serves as a microcosm for the beliefs of Christianity. The main characters must escape from the grip of the Devil, embodied in Valak, and dispel the evil from within the abbey. Their faith will be tested and they will be tempted by the evils that go against God.

After the success of The Nun, the horror genre has been reborn and excitement is at an all-time high. With two more movies to add to The Conjuring series, there is much more to expect in this franchise.