Connect with us

News

Review: ‘The Nun’ Is An Enlightening Experience In ScreenX

Published

on

One of the biggest success stories in mainstream horror the past few years has been The Conjuring film franchise. The supernatural horror series following The Warrens and their encounters with the unknown has managed to grow with spin-off films of sinister elements and characters, starting with Annabelle, and continuing with The Conjuring 2‘s featured villain, The Nun.

Via IMDB

A prequel, the story takes place in post-war Romania circa 1952. A local deliveryman, Frenchie (Jonas Bloque, Elle) discovers a nun hung to death on the steps of an ancient abbey. Notifying The Vatican, they dispatch ‘miracle hunter’ Father Burke (Demián Bichir, Alien: Covenant) and young Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga, The Final Girls) who supposedly has some sort of connection to the area. Traveling to the foreboding abbey, they slowly discover that the nunnery is holding secrets of biblical proportions and is home to the demon, Valak… the titular Nun.

Via IMDB

The Nun was a stand-out character of The Conjuring 2, so anticipation was high for a sequel revolving around the nefarious nun. Directed by Corin Hardy of 2015’s Irish supernatural horror movie, The Hallow, which seems like a natural fit.  For the most part, the movie works in terms of aesthetic and themes. The sinister abbey that’s the setting for a majority of the film has a creepy presence and decor, that despite taking place in 1952, gives things a medieval feeling. The grounds around the nunnery being a large graveyard, complete with still attached bells for any poor soul that gets buried alive… foreshadowing a particular scare.

 

In a lot of ways, I felt The Nun was in homage to many euro-horror creators. The style of the castle and eerie, misty graveyards brought to mind the gothic landscapes of Hammer Films. The hanged nun, supernaturally disturbed eyes, and infernal figures were evocative fo Lucio Fulci. Specifically his ‘Gates Of Hell’ trilogy of The BeyondCity Of The Living Dead, and The House By The Cemetery and his lesser known ‘nunsploitation’ film, Demonia. Without spoiling things, a major plot point felt gleamed from Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight.  The pedigree rather clearly shows, but with enough for The Nun to stand on its own. Featuring some cool frights involving ghoulish or faceless nuns and mad visions.

 

The cast really shines through as well with our main trio. Bichir as a priest tortured by a past exorcism gone wrong, Bloque as the lighthearted Frenchie and his genuine reactions to hellish horror, and Farmiga as the shaken novitate nun, Irene. Oddly, despite Taissa Farmiga being the sister of Vera Farmiga who plays Lorraine Warren in the main Conjuring films, there’s never any real connection made in-story. And of course, Bonnie Aarons as the sinister sister, Valak. A force of fearful nature in every scene she appears in her ‘true’ form.

Via IMDB

The largest fault of the film is unfortunately underutilizing the titular demonic nun. Every time Valak, The Nun in question appears it’s always memorable. But it appears in different forms in many scenes, which is cool for shaking things up, but just having Valak bringing more terror in it’s main image would have been preferable. While the movie does provide some good frights, it falters at certain points from tone and pay-off. This entry in The Conjuring verse is oddly more comical than some of the other stories, and while some jokes pay-off, things veer a bit more toward action/adventure in the climax which depresses the potential horror.

Via IMDB

I was able to see The Nun in ScreenX, a cinematic format where the feature includes an expansion of the silver screen to 270 degrees by addition of the walls of the theater. Being a fan of the William Castle gimmicks of old, this did nothing but enhance my viewing experience, especially for a horror movie such as this with wide environments. It only activates during certain, more scare/action oriented scenes and it expands upon it. Like seeing an even wider landscape of graves or a montage of death bells ringing and the encroaching horror just in the corners of your eyes. Despite whatever flaws the movie may have, ScreenX certainly was a positive addition to the experience.

 

While there are definitely some faults to be had with the film, The Nun is an entertaining gothic horror movie to behold and worth a watch, especially if you’re a Conjuring fan wanting some more connections between the series

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

1 Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title