In Dark Nuns, a spin-off to the 2015 film The Priests, director Hyeok-jae Kwon explores familiar territory from a compelling new angle. The story centers on Sister Junia, a devout nun who was mentored by Father Kim of the previous installment. She is determined to rid a young boy, Hee-Joon (Moon Woo-jin), of the demon that has taken him as a host. Her mission, however, is fraught with peril beyond the supernatural. Compounding the institutional opposition her predecessor faced, Sister Junia must also contend with her own failing health and an insurmountable dogmatic wall from the Seoul Archdiocese: church law dictates that only an ordained priest may perform an exorcism—a role forbidden to women. When seeking help, she turns to Sister Michaela (Jeon Yeo-been), who works at the local hospital. Much like Deacon Choi before her, Michaela is a skeptic, but reluctantly agrees to assist, setting the stage for a harrowing confrontation with evil.
While the screenplay is well-crafted, the film’s pacing is much slower than its predecessor’s, opting for a relentlessly serious tone that sheds the first film’s light-hearted camaraderie. Thematically, its biggest departure is introducing elements of shamanism, which feel at odds with the focused, Christian-centered battle of good versus evil that made The Priests so gripping.
Song Hye-kyo portrays Sister Junia, a nun determined to save a boy from demonic possession.
“…Sister Junia is determined to rid a young boy of the demon that has taken him…”
The performances reflect this mix of strength and missed opportunities. Song Hye-kyo is measured and intense as Sister Junia, and Jeon Yeo-been is a compelling foil as the skeptical Michaela. However, Moon Woo-jin is underserved as the possessed boy; his obvious talent is hampered by a script that recycles dialogue from the first film, making his scenes monotonous and robbing them of unique terror.
In a genre crowded with tales of possession, Dark Nuns distinguishes itself through conviction, even if it doesn’t quite escape the shadow of the original. Its disturbing cinematography and serious tone make it a recommended watch for fans of spiritual horror, though its thematic detours and scriptural stumbles keep it from greatness. In the film, Sister Junia says, “There is no manual for a Dark Nun”—a fitting line for a film that sometimes struggles to write its own rules. While not a perfect successor, Dark Nuns proves this universe has more compelling stories to tell, leaving the door open for a third installment that could, hopefully, find the perfect balance between old faith and new.
"…recommended watch for fans of spiritual horror."
