It is with a degree of surprise that we have seen the development of The Conjuring universe over the last few years. Starting with the 2013 smash horror hit The Conjuring (inspired by the case studies of real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren) director James Wan put the wicked wheels in motion for a horror franchise and since then we have had demonic doll Annabelle (from the first film) inspire two movies of her own and Wan deliver a 2016 Conjuring sequel. Now, after scaring the ‘bee-jesus’ out of audiences, as a side-character in James Wan’s aforementioned excellent The Conjuring 2 (also known as The Conjuring: The Enfield Poltergeist), demon Valak (or ‘The Nun’) returns in her own spin-off origin film.

Like 2014’s Annabelle, The Nun is an instalment in the series that feels less deep, emotive or impactful than its franchise brethren but despite the script borrowing from cliché,...