1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.
For in-depth thoughts on The Nun II, please see my colleague Gaius Bolling’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Nun II delivers an excellent viewing experience, but this release does not come with a Blu-Ray disc to discern the exact uptick in quality. Numerous sequences in the film take place under the cover of darkness, which this disc handles admirably with clear detail and excellent delineation. Black levels are strong in this presentation, staying deep and inky with so much depth. The highlights in the film are firmly defined with whites pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. Any potential instances of compression artifacts and banding are avoided with this 4K UHD disc.
This 4K UHD presentation delivers on all fronts including significant showings in clarity and color. There is some fascinating production design featured in the film which you can readily appreciate with this transfer. Every location is handled with the precision of an impeccably authored disc. Skin tones appear natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as pores. The increased range of the color spectrum is stunning to behold. The HDR finds new depths when it comes to the nuance of the hues. As great as the Blu-Ray may be, Warner Bros. has delivered another top-notch transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray comes with a robust Dolby Atmos audio mix that is enveloping and quite complex at times. Dialogue is clear and balanced well with the environmental sounds. There is nearly always something going on in the surrounds, but there is not an ounce of difficulty hearing what everyone is saying. This is an active track that provides all manner of stirring sound effects and an effective score to keep you on edge. There is a welcome amount of activity in the low end that makes itself known. The height channels are used to dynamic effect in some of the more tense scenes. All of the sounds are coming from the appropriate directions, and there are absolutely no technical issues with the track. Fans will have a blast with the sonic journey.
Special Features
- The Nun II – Demon In Paradise: A five-minute featurette that delves into the origins of the demon nun, the location shooting of this outing, the production design, and much more. Director Michael Chaves; producer James Wan; actors Taissa Farmiga, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, and Anna Popplewell; and more members of the crew all offer some intriguing comments.
- Handcrafted Nightmares: A seven-minute piece that explores this “iconic” horror character and the idea that the creative team to go beyond conventional thinking about where she could potentially pop up.
Final Thoughts
The Nun II is a slightly improved follow-up to one of the more underwhelming tangents in the Conjuring universe. This property holds so much promise, and it occasionally delivers the thrills you crave, but it is just far too inconsistent for its own good. Pacing is a major issue with this outing, often testing the audience’s patience while you wait to get to the good stuff (and there is some really good stuff in fits and spurts). The cast remains a highlight with Taissa Farmiga proving to be a strong lead and Storm Reid giving this outing a shot of adrenaline when it is needed. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray that features a stellar A/V presentation and a small offering of special features. If you are a fan of the film, you should be pleased by the disc.
The Nun II will be available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, and DVD on November 14, 2023. The film is currently available to own on Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.