/Film’s own BJ Colangelo kicked off the reaction chain, sharing that “a few scares had me jumping in my seat.” She added that “Storm Reid is a welcome addition to The Conjuring Universe, even if the story felt like three different films fighting for the main plot at times. Still had a blast and Bonnie Aarons is a treasure.” Aarons, a fantastic character actress who’s now reprising her role as Valak for the fourth time, is currently suing Warner Bros. for using her likeness without adequately compensating her. It’s the foreboding, imperious presence that Aarons gives Valak that really gives these movies their juice, so hopefully Warners rectifies the way they’ve been undervaluing their star performer amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strike.
Speaking of performers, Perri Nemiroff of Collider also singled out Conjuring Universe newcomer Storm Reid for praise, tweeting that she “loved the fresh energy Storm Reid brings to the series,” and that “again, Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet are winning leads.” Overall, she found “The Nun II” to be “a rock-solid new installment of the Conjuring-verse” with “eerie atmosphere [that] is hugely effective and there’s a bunch of strong set pieces.” Nemiroff is already “eager for another watch to over-analyze the new additions to the lore.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s Brian Davids tweeted in no uncertain terms that “‘The Nun II’ is infinitely better than the first installment. The characters of Irene and Maurice are explored in a more meaningful way, and the greater Conjuring Universe is impacted rather significantly.” So the movie rocks and the characters are better. But what about everything else — the writing, the way it handles Conjuring lore, and most importantly, the scares?