The Nun II (2023)

The nun Irene is sent to investigate a series of religious crimes that seem to be committed by the previously defeated demon.

'The Nun II' is the continuation of the story of the ghost nun from the films from The Conjuring franchise. It keeps the original distribution (with small changes) and somehow manages to obtain a more consistent and whole result, with as many horror-type actions as it can fit and many layers that manage to keep attention away from any possible flaws. Not flawless but attention grabing with what the audience likes.

Director:  Michael Chaves   

With: Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, Anna Popplewell

Rating: 7.5/10

American Horror Story 8: Apocalypse (2018)

After a global nuclear attack, a chosen few retreat to underground shelters where the rules are unexpectedly changed.

Season 8 of American Horror Story sees some of the favorites from seasons 1 and 3 reunited in a story that mixes original content (full of apocalyptic elements and an expected Antichrist) with stories from previous seasons (1, 3 and 5). Maybe it's not as strong a season as the ones mentioned, but the continuity and the familiar faces, as well as the gift of a satisfying closure for all create a strong effect that has quite a weight to it.

Director:  Bradley Buecker, jennifer Lynch, Sarah Paulson and others

Production:  FX Network   

Creator: Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy   

Duration:  season 8 of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Billie Lourd, Adina Porter, Cheyenne Jackson, Frances Conroy, Leslie Grossman, Emma Roberts, Cody Fern, Kathy Bates, Connie Britton, Jessica Lange, Taissa Farmiga

Rating: 8/10

We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)

The stability of a wealthy family of only three members is threatened by the arrival of a distant cousin who has set his eyes on the family fortune.

An adaptation of a popular novel by Shirley Jackson. The film has many qualities, but it seems that in terms of adapting the book faithfully it does lose points. The film is labbeled a horror and a drama and that's not completely wrong. It's just that the element of horror does not come from the source designed by the author (the reader's doubts about the children's true nature) but from the harsh treatment the characters suffer from everyone around them, because the filmmakers chose to victimise the main characters in order to find an easily digestible explanation for their dubious actions: what a shame! 

The dialogue is very rich and lively, Taissa Farmiga and Alexandra Daddario are wonderful in the main roles, Crispin Glover is brilliant in the role of their slightly not-all-there uncle.

Director:  Stacie Passon    

With: Taissa Farmiga, Alexandra Daddario, Crispin Glover, Sebastian Stan

Rating: 7/10

The Nun (2018)

Un preot specializat în exorcisme și o călugăriță novice sunt trimiși să investigheze un suicid la o mănăstire catolică izolată în România.

Probabil cel mai slăbuț din universul The Conjuring (rămâne de văzut dacă The Curse Of Llorona va câștiga acest titlu în loc), filmul oferă un context misteriosului tablou ce își facea apariția din când în când în celelalte filme ce-i implică pe soții Warren. Plin de clișee și așa-zisele "jump-scares", nu oferă nimic cu adevărat de speriat deoarece nu există nici un moment de liniște apăsătoare care să ofere timp pentru construcția și celei mai mici măsuri de suspans. Povestea nu este complet trasă de păr, dar nu este pusă în valoare de un regizor care să cunoască genul horror.

Doar pentru fanii francizei sau pentru amatorii de horror ieftin ce le va întări prejudecățile despre acest gen...

Regia: Corin Hardy

Cu: Damian Bichir, Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet

Rating: 5/10

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