Back in 2017, a small Spanish horror movie titledVeronicadropped on Netflix to great praise. It was a haunting film with engaging characters and incredibly creepy imagery. While it’s not the scariest movie of all time, it was certainly among the most unforgettable international horror movies of the past decade. With no prior evidence of a sequel or a spin-off of any kind, Netflix’s upcomingSister Death, set in theVeronicauniverse, was a big, yet welcome surprise.
Sister Deathis a visually stunning horror film in the sense that it’s well shot, sports some great set design, and has wonderful costumes and makeup, which all help create the ghostly atmosphere of a specific time and place. The film’s old-school aspect ratio of 4:3 continues a surprising new trend in smaller films of recent years (A Ghost Story, First Reformed, Son of Saul, American Honey), and allows the imagery to really pop, making for a far more claustrophobic and clear flick. The lack of music for the majority of the film elevates the already suspenseful and scary tone. Aria Bedmaris flawless as the lead character, and is Spain’s nextgreat scream queen.
It’s nigh impossible to not compareSister Deathto another 2023 horror film involving nuns,The Nun II.Thankfully, however,Sister Deathis a far superior horror film, and arrives just in time for Halloween.
A Surprising Prequel
Created entirely around a short quote fromVeronica,with Sister Narcisa, the blind nun, mentioning that she caused her own blindness,Sister Deathfollows Narcisa (Aria Bedmar) as she is welcomed into a convent following the disappearance of one of the other nuns. Upon her arrival, Sister Narcisa begins to unravel dark secrets and a terrifying mystery which will force Narcisa to question her faith.
Sister Narcisa was one of the more captivating characters in 2017sVeronica. But having an entire film centered around her, and the origins of how she became blind, wasn’t a huge aspect ofVeronicathat plagued our brains, and something we weren’t exactly dying to see. However,Sister Deathproves us wrong. Narcisa’s story, with her battle against faith and religion, is fascinating. Her past with the supernatural is terrifying at first, until she and the audience learn that her gift is to help uncover the dark secrets of the monastery and the tortured souls that inhabit it.
A Terrifying Atmosphere
Sister Deathis very light on jump scares. That’s very surprising considering director Paco Plaza, the co-creator of thegreat fast-zombie franchise[REC], and director ofVeronica,is known for producing some of the most intense jump scares in horror history. Instead, Plaza creates an ominous atmosphere that builds up more fear than any jump scare ever could.
Sister Deathcontinues the great tradition of religious horror codified by Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist but existing much earlier and continuing through masterpieces likeSaint Maud.Whether it’s the idea of God-abiding individuals succumbing to the hands of the devil, the feeling of spiritual abandonment and isolation, or just the fact that ancient rituals, myths, and traditions can in themselves be spooky, religious horror has a very specific feeling of unease.
While it is a little disappointing that a film from Plaza doesn’t have many visceral jump scares, the director more than makes up for it with his haunting imagery. Plaza offers up numerous unforgettable scenes and moments of suspense. Whether it’s Narcisa spitting out two eyeballs after thinking she had eaten something else, the terrifying imagery of a ghost playing hangman, a brilliant bit of foreshadowing, or the scene where Narcisa becomes blind, there is still plenty here for fans of horror, more importantly fans of religious horror to chew on and adore.
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The Birth of a New Spanish Scream Queen
Upon first viewing, we never expected to come out ofSister Deathwith a new scream queen who we can’t wait to see more of. Aria Bedmar is fantastic as a young Narcisa, offering a multi-layered and powerful performance. At the start of the film, Narcisa is a scared young woman who’s lost her faith.
Narcisa is constantly seen crying in incredible fear, and even at points punishing herself for doubting God. But by the end, Narcisa, thanks to Bedmar’s captivating performance, grows to become a selfless, confident, and heroic character who overcomes the hidden evil inside the monastery. It’s a truly strong spiritual arc. While the rest of the cast is great, it was Aria Bedmar who stole the show, and we can’t wait to see what she pops up in next. Hopefully, a slasher.
A Brutal Finale
AlthoughSister Deathis for the most part, a slow-burn, the film boasts an epic, vengeful, and brutal finale that beautifully wraps a bow around the rest of the film. After becoming blind, Narcisa soon discovers the secrets hidden inside the monastery after having visions of the past. She begins to take justice into her own hands and punish those behind the dark past of the monastery, for both herself and the spirit who suffered at the hands of the convent.
The final act is full of broken jaws, blood spewing from characters' eyes and mouths, and some gruesomely deep slash wounds. It’s incredibly brutal, and a fantastic end to the already excellentSpanish horror movie.
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Potential Sequels?
As surprising as it was to receive a prequel set in the world ofVeronica, a sequel toSister Deathwould be far less surprising. In fact, we would be surprised if Netflix didn’t order one. While the film never really leads to anything that immediately teases a sequel,Sister Deathinstead offers up more of an ambiguous ending that could have infinite possibilities. Perhaps potential sequels could see Sister Narcisa investigate other supernatural cases,Ed and Lorraine Warren style. Whatever happens, we’re glad we got this surprising prequel we didn’t know we needed.
