Expect to see a lot ofThe Nunthis week. The latest spinoff inThe Conjuringuniverse, launched by James Wan in 2013, is slated to haunt US theaters this Friday, September 7th. Directed by Corin Hardy and starring Demián Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, and Jonas Bloquet, it’s being billed as the darkest chapter inThe Conjuring franchiseyet.The Nunalso takes place chronologically before any of the previousConjuring(orAnnabelle) films, meaning it’s not just an origin story for the demon Valak (first introduced in 2016’sThe Conjuring 2), it’s a starting point for the entire series. We saw a connection in 2017’sAnnabelle: Creation, but whether or notThe Nunsomehow ties into the firstConjuringfilm remains to be seen.
As Warner Bros. giveThe Nuna final promotional push, our cups runneth over with four new teasers and a new featurette all hitting the Internet this holiday weekend, and you can see them all at the bottom of the article. The first clip, “Sister”, is an extended moment that’s already been revealed in previous trailers; asSister Irene(Farmiga) explores an abandoned convent’s darkest corridors, she’s assaulted (as are we) with a jump-scare reminiscent ofThe Exorcist III. In “Holy Fire” Father Burke (Bichir) faces down ahorde of faceless entities in habits; it’s also set in the claustrophobic labyrinth of catacombs beneath the film’s cursed Romanian convent.
Next up is “Don’t Stop Praying”; this one also features Farmiga attempting to keepValak’s furyat bay through perpetual prayer. Be sure to watch until the end for a powerful ending. In the fourth teaser (shared via Twitter), Frenchie (played by Jonas Bloquet) uncovers “the face of evil”-and we kind of wish he hadn’t! Finally, we’ve got a 7-minute featurette featuring Corin Hardy; it includes a ton of behind the scenes footage, as well as interviews with the filmmaker who first hit most horror fans' radars following the release ofThe Hallowin 2015. It includes some spectacular clips of a scene that features a lot of (unholy) water!
The Nunwill also see the return of Bonnie Aarons in the title role. As Valak, she was a consummate scene-stealer inThe Conjuring 2, which concluded with an epic showdown between thedemon nunand Lorraine Warren (played by Vera Farmiga, Taissa’s older sister). Her ability to wordlessly convey palpable dread combined with classic facial features that highlights the fiend’s demonic skin and eyes, make her an essential cast member. This horror fan doubts another actress could exude the same, instantly iconic intensity. Check back for reviews ofThe Nunat the end of the week, which is in theaters only fromWarner Bros.
