The Nun gives us an origin story for the demon, Valak. Valak is one of three demons introduced in The Conjuring along with Bethsheba (who desperately needs an origin film in the universe) and Annabelle. We get to see how Valak came to the earth. The demon was summoned during the Crusades, and World War II. The demon comes from mythology. The true Valak comes in the form of an angelic child riding on a two-headed dragon. He controls the 38 legions of hell and is a general in the devil’s army. There’s plenty of material on the myth of Valak. This version of the demon is strictly tied to the conjuring universe and is based on a vision from Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) in The Conjuring.

The film revolves around Valak. Valak is a demon from hell, that needs a human host to escape the in the abbey that he was summoned inside of. The story is of a Nun sacrificing herself in the form of a suicide to stop Valak from escaping the abbey. The Catholic church calls upon Father Burke (Demián Bichir – The Hateful Eight/Alien Covenant) to go investigate the matter with Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga – American Horror Story). Sister Irene has visions, which is why she was summoned to help. They get help from Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet – Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets), who helps them find their way around the village. Valak’s evil and darkness is spreading through the village, and it’s up to the Father and Sister to seek out the evil.

Each one of them is fighting their own demons. Father Burke is dealing with the death of a boy he exercised. Sister Irene is dealing with the visions she’s been having, and Frenchie is coping with his indecisiveness. Valak feeds off of this throughout the film and gains energy from these things. It comes down to will and faith. The will of Sister Irene, Father Burke, and Frenchie, and the power of the evil Valak.

Overall, I enjoyed this film. The film was a masterful mix of horror and a good but not great story. I expected a tad bit more of horrifying things, but it was one of the better films in The Conjuring universe. Corin Hardy did a wonderful job piecing this film together, and of course the mind behind this universe, James Wan will always be appreciated. The fact that we finally have an origin story for two of the most feared demons in The Conjuring universe, is amazing. Now, we need a Bethsheba origin film, and those third Conjuring and Annabelle films. These movies all tie together well and make for an amazing universe.

Rating: 7.5/10

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– Rascal F. Kennedy

When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together, they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun.