The Nun (3 Stars)

This film takes place in 1952, a prequel to the films in the Conjuring series. Whereas the Conjuring films are loosely based on the true stories of the paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, "The Nun" tells a fictional tale.

The Carta Monastery in Romania hides a secret. It was originally a castle owned by a Duke who summoned a powerful demon called Valak. The Roman Catholic Church sent soldiers to conquer the castle, and Valak was sealed underground. The castle became a monastery, and the nuns were given the eternal mission to keep Valak trapped with their prayers. They succeeded for hundreds of years, until the monastery was hit by a bomb in the Second World War. Valak emerged from below the Earth and took over the monastery.

In 1952 Valak took possession of the last remaining nun in the monastery. The exorcist Father Burke is sent to the monastery by the Vatican, accompanied by a novice nun who can see visions.

I enjoyed the opening scenes where the main characters are introduced. As the film continued it all became a mess. Demons in the typical religious good-vs-evil films can do just about anything, and "The Nun" is no different. The film is scary, but if you sit down and analyse it you'll agree with me that it just doesn't make sense.

I have a question for my Romanian friends: was it really so easy for foreigners (Irish and Canadian) to travel in and out of Romania during the years of Communist rule?