--- title: "The Nun II: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-nun-ii/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-nun-ii" critics_score: 53 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Nun II (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 53 from 13 reviews: 4 positive, 4 mixed, 5 negative. The reviews split almost evenly, and the spread is wide. Most critics agree on what works: Taissa Farmiga’s earnest lead performance, the gloomy European settings and a handful of well-built set pieces, with The Times picking out a magazine-stand sequence as the most inventive. Several also find the final act enjoyably absurd. The reservations cluster around the scares themselves, which many find repetitive and reliant on jump cuts and loud music rather than built tension, and around a plot that leans heavily on Conjuring Universe lore. Those who like it, led by Collider, call it a clear improvement on the first film, tighter and better paced. Those who do not, including The Guardian and Screen Daily, see a retread with diminished returns from a franchise running on habit. Even the harshest reviews tend to spare Farmiga. The broad view is of a better-made sequel that still cannot keep its demon frightening for long. ## IndieWire — Alison Foreman Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The review praises the film as a tightly crafted entry in the Conjuring Universe with strong performances from returning stars. It singles out the direction and production values while noting its overly pro-Catholic stance as a notable aspect. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-nun-2-review-taissa-farmiga-michael-chaves-1234903107/) ## Empire — Ben Travis Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. A more coherent and stronger follow-up than the first film, with inventive imagery and a loopy final act full of absurd fun, though it remains a middle-of-the-table entry in the Conjuring universe with some slack pacing. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-nun-ii/) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 3/5. This stylish but silly sequel is more fun than its derivative predecessor, boasting a spooky atmosphere, impressive performances and a couple of ingenious set pieces. The plot feels like a bunch of ideas cobbled together without much internal logic, and the repetitive scary sequences feel strangely cosy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-yvt38e/the-nun-ii/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The review finds the sequel serviceable but unoriginal, delivering more jump scares and familiar Conjuring Universe tropes without much innovation. It singles out the atmospheric European locations, gloomy cinematography, and Taissa Farmiga's vulnerable performance as strengths amid the familiar mayhem. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-nun-ii-review-1235584574/) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 7 September 2023. The review describes a schlocky sequel whose screechiness is redeemed by some impressively creepy set pieces. It singles out the stylish handling of certain horror moments for praise while noting the middle stretch drags. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/the-nun-ii-review-the-conjuring-michael-chaves/) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The sequel offers some bloody scares and a gleefully demented finale but feels tethered and restricted by the broader Conjuring franchise lore, preventing it from achieving the chaotic thrills of the writer's previous work like M3GAN. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/the-nun-2-review-b2407075.html) ## The AV Club — Luke Y. Thompson Rating D+. 7 September 2023. The review deems the sequel mediocre, criticizing its low body count, underdeveloped characters, and inconsistent tone between elevated horror and exploitation. It singles out the demon's limited screen time and the ineffective attempts at scares as major flaws. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-nun-2-film-review-1850810098) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The film fails to improve on its predecessor with weak scares and uninspired performances, feeling like an unnecessary sequel despite some freshness from the boarding school setting and a few gory moments. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-nun-II-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The critic finds the film lacking in suspense and an utter snooze, criticizing the overuse of monsters and repetitive scenes. She praises Taissa Farmiga's earnest performance as Sister Irene. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-09-07/review-the-nun-ii-taissa-farmiga-conjuring-cinematic-universe) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The film is a toothless, convoluted retread of the first Nun with even more ludicrous plotting and severely diminished scare returns. It relies on endless jump scares and bombastic music rather than building real tension. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-nun-ii-review/5185633.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 7 September 2023. The critic calls the film a demonic dead end that reveals a franchise impoverished beyond its box office. They single out the demon nun's repetitive party tricks and the overall lack of innovation for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/07/the-nun-ii-review-second-dose-of-clerical-horror-is-a-demonic-dead-end) ## The Times — Ed Potton Rating ★★★☆☆. 8 September 2023. The critic sees another helping of lavish pseudo-religious hokum that flirts with ridiculousness but is stylishly mounted. They single out the creative magazine-stand set piece for praise amid the silliness. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-nun-ii-review-back-with-a-bang-and-a-wimple-cn880xvr3) ## Collider — Samantha Coley Rating B+. 7 September 2023. The Nun II is an effective, gory, and impressively scary addition to the Conjuring universe that stands up on its own while deepening the canon. The critic singles out the tight script, practical effects, improved pacing, richer characters, and Taissa Farmiga's performance for praise. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-nun-2-review/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The film is a significant improvement over the first Nun and one of the stronger Conjuring spin-offs, though it still has familiar flaws. The critic singles out the relentless final act and effective set pieces for praise while complaining about the dull plot and overly serious tone around a silly premise. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a44998718/nun-2-review-conjuring/) ## The Wrap — William Bibbiani Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2023. The critic calls it a major step down from the first film, with jump scares that rarely connect and a tepid, unremarkable storyline that lacks thematic interest. He singles out Taissa Farmiga’s striking lead performance and a few moments of glorious nonsense in the final act for praise amid the overall disappointment. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/the-nun-ii-review-conjuring-universe/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-nun-ii.md