Paying Tribute to the “Legendary” The Exorcist
Right from the beginning of The Nun 2, audiences may find themselves recalling the iconic film The Exorcist. When Valak appears and threatens the life of Father Noiret, the shadow of the demon has cast a dark presence over the scene, “haunting” a priest who is trying to escape with his life in tow. This character happens to be Frenchie, the man who was possessed by Valak at the end of the first installment.
From the backdrop, the hues of the night create a striking image of Frenchie, who is portrayed as a connection to Father Merrin’s legacy in helping Regan escape from demonic possession.
Frenchie Echoes “Lessons” from The Blair Witch Project
Alongside The Exorcist, the horror genre’s most notable influence remains The Blair Witch Project, which also has its own homage in The Nun 2. In one scene, a delivery girl arrives at the office where Frenchie works, and the camera captures him gazing into the distance, reminiscent of a memorable moment in The Blair Witch Project when character Mike also looks up in a similar fashion.
Moreover, the character of the delivery girl in the scene mirrors Heather from The Blair Witch Project, as both are faced with the horrifying specters that haunt them.
A Horrific Accident Reminiscent of Annabelle
After the chilling opening scene, The Nun 2 quickly leads us to the main character Irene, who, at this point, and other characters are met with a horrific car accident that brings back memories of Annabelle: Creation.
This scene recalls one of the most gut-wrenching moments in Annabelle: Creation, where the character Annabelle Mullins suffers a tragic fate following a car accident orchestrated by her mother, who is forced to make a harrowing choice on the road.
The Haunting “Demon” Valak
Valak is infamous in the horror realm, particularly in Hollywood, for its terrifying portrayal as a “demon” through art. The Nun 2 continues to employ this method, inflicting fear on characters Irene and Sophie as they confront the demon. Many viewers might even draw parallels to Pennywise due to Valak’s chilling presence and mannerisms.
The Role of Father Burke
In one scene, Irene is seen meeting a Vatican priest who requests assistance against Valak, who has been wreaking havoc across Europe. Initially reluctant, Irene soon learns that Father Burke, who had previously assisted her in The Nun, may have a deeper understanding of the situation.
The Warren Family’s Hallway
In a scene depicting Valak in a haunted house, little Sophie sees a familiar phantom lurking in a well-known hallway.
This encounter marks Valak’s first appearance in The Conjuring 2 at the Warren residence, where the daughter of the family confronts the demon. Many eerie coincidences suggest that Sophie might be tied to an underlying mystery involving the Warren family.
Irene Sees Lorraine in the Reflection
One surprising detail when “foreseeing” the future in The Nun 2 occurs when Irene is momentarily possessed by Valak. She perceives reflections, evoking memories of her own mother, and sees another apparition that resembles Lorraine Warren.
This connection highlights a spiritual link between the characters Irene and Lorraine, also hinting at the potential for future events concerning the Warren family in the upcoming film, The Conjuring: The Last Rites.
After-Credit Scene Teasing Part 4 of The Conjuring
The Nun 2 features only one after-credit scene lasting just under a minute, hinting at the return of the beloved Warren couple. At their home, Ed receives a mysterious call from Father Gordon. As Ed prepares to answer, Lorraine stands solemnly beside him, while Ed simply expresses curiosity about Gordon’s urgent matter, leading to the film’s conclusion.
This surely sets the stage for the next installment of The Conjuring, with Ed and Lorraine continuing their journey into the supernatural. According to information from IMDb, this upcoming film will be titled Last Rites and will once again be penned by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who wrote the script for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.
