I’m not a huge fan of horror movies but I still find them fascinating enough to watch them whenever possible—or if I’m brave enough. I’ve only watched two in the cinema: Erik Matti’s Seklusyon and just last night, Corin Hardy’s The Nun. (I also just realized that both of them are about haunted churches and monasteries. Oh boy.)
The Nun is another prequel to The Conjuring universe, which is set in 1952 in Romania. It centers around Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) and Father Burke (Damián Bichir) who were sent by the Vatican to investigate a suicide at the Cârța Monastery. What they discovered were, as expected, a cursed building and an evil being making their life hell.
Despite hiding from the scary scenes, I found the plot interesting and suspense-filled. Of course, I also couldn’t help but ask the same funny questions that would pop in my head in every horror movie I’ve seen. I’m not going to spoil the pivotal parts in the film, don’t worry. But we do want to know if you could relate to these thoughts too.
Why aren’t they leaving the haunted place?
Oh, there’s blood everywhere? Let’s go in! Someone’s whispering out of nowhere? Let’s stay the night! Seriously, this is how every horror movie starts and how killings happen. But then again, the movie won’t progress if they don’t throw themselves into the lion’s den. So go, brave souls.
Why do they keep following the noises?
If I was staying in a place where a heinous death or two happened, I wouldn’t be following random noises in the night. Expect a lot of that in The Nun plus a few jump scares in between.
Who do you think is there, dude?
This is in relation to the previous question. I find this horror movie trope a bit funny because when they hear someone shuffling in the room they’re in, the automatic response is “Who’s there?” This often happens in movies where the protagonists are either alone or know that their companion isn’t in the same place as they are. I found myself asking this a lot because both Sister Irene and Father Burke randomly see people walking around. Dude, that’s probably not going to be a friendly neighbor, don’t talk to them!
Don’t they realize they might die if they touch that?
It’s the same with relics in movies like The Mummy and Indiana Jones—if someone touches them, there’s bound to be a trap somewhere. Sister Irene and Father Burke are in an unknown place and they’ve already established that there’s an evil presence—more reason for them to not touch anything and risk the chance of getting grabbed or possessed.
Why are they in the dark so much?!
I get it, it’s 1952 and the monastery doesn’t have electricity so they have to carry oil lamps around. But Father Burke prefers to read in the dark in secluded areas and Sister Irene keeps exploring empty hallways in the middle of the night. Yay to more ghosts and demons creeping up on everyone!
How many things can fit in their pockets?
This is a dumb thing to ask but it was like a comic relief for me and my friend when I wondered where they were the matches and crosses they were carrying. Especially Sister Irene who was wearing a dress and a skirt for the whole duration of the film—unless they had pockets. In that case, where’d she buy her skirt and dress because I need them in my life.
Art by Marian Hukom
Photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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