Medieval theologians used to say that monasteries and abbeys were inundated with demons while the marketplace may have had only one or two; more were required to corrupt the incorruptible cloistered folks while the buyers and sellers in the marketplace were far easier targets. Of course, this speaks more of a distrust of economic activity, and a veneration of the religious life. With "The Nun" however, we have an abbey of nuns, in Romania no less, that has definitely been corrupted by evil. I'm not familiar with the "Conjuring Universe" franchise, nor am I a frequent viewer of horror films like some reviewers on this site, but "The Nun" was reasonably well done, had the appropriately gloomy sets, and had a pervasively ominous atmosphere. True, there were logic pitfalls in the plot, and the "Frenchie" character was somewhat anomalous, but I enjoyed this movie.
Admittedly, cliches abound in this film. We have somber music, a darkly-lit abbey, fleeting, indistinct images (to heighten our imagination), superstitious, frightened townspeople (not unlike the usual peasants), an abbey that totally locks up at night and stays that way until sunrise, Latin incantations, and the usual revelation at the end that maybe the evil is not completely vanquished after all. We find these cliches often in horror filmmaking because, let's face it, they work (again and again) for most of us. One cliche I wouldn't mind being altered is the "character," both physical and spiritual, of the evil demon(s). Instead of physically repulsive creatures possessed of violent fury, why not have an evil being who is coldly austere, strictly self-contained, totally amoral, and cunningly manipulative. Now he / she would be dangerous in a different way, not unlike Satan and his temptations.
Admittedly, cliches abound in this film. We have somber music, a darkly-lit abbey, fleeting, indistinct images (to heighten our imagination), superstitious, frightened townspeople (not unlike the usual peasants), an abbey that totally locks up at night and stays that way until sunrise, Latin incantations, and the usual revelation at the end that maybe the evil is not completely vanquished after all. We find these cliches often in horror filmmaking because, let's face it, they work (again and again) for most of us. One cliche I wouldn't mind being altered is the "character," both physical and spiritual, of the evil demon(s). Instead of physically repulsive creatures possessed of violent fury, why not have an evil being who is coldly austere, strictly self-contained, totally amoral, and cunningly manipulative. Now he / she would be dangerous in a different way, not unlike Satan and his temptations.