THE NUN

US, 2018, 96 minutes, Colour.
Demian Bechir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Bonnie Aarons, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson.
Directed by Corin Hardy.

There is an exorcism sequence in this film, but it is not an exorcism film in the vein of The Exorcist. Rather, it is a general kind of horror film which uses some of the conventions of exorcisms and other religious themes.

For audiences who enjoyed the two Conjuring films, they will remember that in the second film there was the image of a sinister nun, an embodiment of evil. There was some discussion about the background, possibly Romania. The screenwriters then decided that they would fill out this prequel story. (And the two Conjuring films were directed by James Wan, who helped establish the Saw horror series, cowriting this time because he was working, more upmarket, in the DC film of Aquaman.)

So, the setting is an enormous castle in the Romanian forests, imposing exteriors, very sinister interiors, crypts, basements, corridors, a door which states God ends here, the chapel. It is 1952 and there are memories of bombs dropping on the Castle (suggesting some diabolic activity but not pursuing this theme much further).

The film opens with a young nun and the Superior venturing beyond that sinister door and, the nun wanting to avoid possession by evil, hanging herself. This raises issues in the Vatican, a group of cardinals and priests meeting and authorising their representative, Father Anthony Burke (Demian Bechir) to investigate. He has a lead with a young novice in London and decides that she should accompany him to Romania. She is played by Taissa Farmiga, the younger sister of Vera Farmiga who is glimpsed, along with Patrick Wilson, reprising their roles as the famous Warrens, the experts in exorcisms in Amityville and London's Enfield.

There is also a young French-Canadian?, Frenchy (Jonas Bloquet who discovered the dead nun and helps the visitors with their inquiries. It should be pointed out that the screenwriters were not as accurate in their depiction of things Catholic as they might have been one could contribute a list of 'Goofs' to the IMDb entry!

Most of the film is in the dark, during the night, in the eerie castle, out in the cemetery, with some early discussion about being buried alive and bells being provided to alert passers-by followed by some moments of tension when Father Burke finds himself buried alive.

The abbess is seen sitting in a high chair in the basement, her face covered with a black veil. Various nuns appear at times, especially in the chapel where, it is said, there is a tradition of perpetual adoration with nuns reciting the rosary. But, then they appear and disappear, the sinister nun looking frightening, the young novice trying to cope.

Needless to say, it builds up to a huge climax, threats to all those concerned though the novice decides that facing this crisis she should make her first profession and Father Burke officiates (from an alleged book of prayer but the title of the Bible is very clear on the book). The expected mayhem then ensues.

This is what the filmmakers intended to do, make a frightening horror film, borrowing Catholic images and that is what they have done.

1. The title? Expectations? In the horror genre?

2. The Conjuring films, the background, the Warrens and their role in exorcisms, the introduction of the nun? Incarnation of evil and the devil? The background of the Warrens, the house, position, their work, the consequences? The framework of the film, the glimpse of them and the child with her drawing of the nun, the end and their lecture, especially about Frenchy and his being possessed?

3. The characters, the interconnections, the back story and audience familiarity?

4. 1952, Romania, the huge castle, the exterior views, the forest, the cemetery, the interiors, the basement, the Chapel and corridors? The bombings during the war? The musical score?

5. The horror, borrowing images from the Catholic Church, as metaphors of good and evil, not an exorcism film but using the conventions from The Exorcist? The nuns, sacred, habits, prayer, confrontation with evil? The priests, exorcisms, the role of the Vatican?

6. A dark film, so much at night, atmosphere of fear, the title: God ends here? The powers of evil, not satanic? The theme of being buried alive? Ghosts and spirits?

7. Catholicism, the role of nuns, conference, communities, prayer, the members of the community? Perpetual adoration? The praying of the Ave Maria? The relic of the blood of Christ?

8. The fact that the film did not have a Catholic technical adviser, the range of goofs?

9. The introduction, the young nun, the atmosphere of evil in the house, the Superior, going through the door, the Superior and her being drawn back into the darkness, the young nun, the hanging, the blood on the steps, Frenchy putting her body in the ice room? Her moving? The eerie atmosphere, the sinister seeming nun and the revelation of her self-sacrifice?

10. The Vatican meeting, Anthony Burke, his work as a chaplain, during the war? Going to Rome, the discussion with the Cardinals and the group? The concern about Romania? The official visitor, going to London, his encounter with Irene, her explanation of her visions, the connection with Romania and the nuns? Novice, not professing her vows, in her habit, in secular dress?

11. The two going to Romania, going to see Frenchy, his role in finding the nun, removing her body? His being their guide, the explanations, his French-Canadian? background? The group going into the Castle, the atmosphere, the abbess veiled sitting on with chair, real or not? The invitation to stay the night?

12. Anthony Burke, his character, coat and tie, hat? His background explanations? The bells at the cemetery, the talk about being buried alive? His waking up, going out, the experience and his being buried in the coffin? Ringing the bell, calling out? Irene, her dreams, coming out, finding Fr. Burke, digging away the soil? Releasing him? The atmosphere of terror?

13. The next day, going into the convent, to question the nuns, Irene, the young nun, her being invited to stay, the room? The dreams? The nuns, alive, dead? Appearance and disappearance? The nuns praying in the Chapel?

14. The scene with Frenchy, his going to the local inn, the comments about the convent and the nuns?

15. The buildup to the climax, the quest, in the convent, the closed doors, looking for the entry into evil? The blood of Christ? Irene deciding to take her vows, Fr. Burke officiating, prostrate on the floor? Frenchy attacked? Fr. Burke, injury, the snakes? Frenchy saving Irene, the kiss of life? The nuns being freed, buried, holy ground?

16. The lecture, the Warrens, the explanation about Frenchy being possessed?

17. An experience of the Conjuring world?