What is up with these horror flicks about deranged nuns?? Today I came across the 2006 movie The Nun on the shelf of my local video rental store. Here’s the Netflix description:
For the young students at a strict Catholic boarding school for girls, one particular nun (Cristina Piaget) made their lives a living hell — until she miraculously disappeared, ending the torment. Years later, however, when the school’s alumnae begin dropping off one by one, the survivors can’t help but feel a familiar and menacing presence among them. Banding together, they strike out to send this twisted sister from whence she came!
Starring: Manu Fullola, Tete Delgado …
Director: Luis De La Madrid
Genre: Horror
Format: Widescreen …
Language: English
Subtitles: Spanish
For horror violence and language
It’s not that I like nun horror movies or think they have any redeeming qualities. (I know, it’s not fair of me to judge these movies without having seen them, but COME ON!) I’m just amazed by people’s perverse fascination with nuns. Is it the huge contrast between a so-called woman of God and the fact that she is an abusive and merciless murderer that makes such films appeal to people? Would the movie have been as appealing if the murderer was a non-nun school teacher gone awry? Not being a fan of the horror genre of movie, I really couldn’t say for sure. Who knows what makes a film into a blockbuster or cult classic?
How has the traditionally-habited nun with a nasty mean streak gotten lodged in our collective imagination? What is so compelling about that image for people? Folks don’t get nearly as interested in nuns if the nun is “ordinary.” Who wants a dull ole nun wearing khakis, a blouse, blazer, and (sensible) heels? She’s no fun if she’s not whacking people with rulers or murdering boarding school girls.
Well hopefully this is the last horror nun flick that I run into. I need a good dose of Sister Helen Prejean and her acting double Susan Sarandon to kick me back into reality.
Archived Comments
- August 21, 2006 at 2:26 pm
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I actually saw this movie not too long ago and it’s not completely nun-centric; the film attempts a psychological route much like the De Niro film ‘Hide and Seek;’ but, you are correct in that it is premised on ‘the evil nun’ idea. I think that the popular notion of a ‘nun’ is that of a woman dressed in full ‘penguin’ habit. For many people (even to me), that image represents a MYSTERY. What’s it all about? I think that these type of films feed off the speculation that the mystery is someone hiding a secret – maybe bottled up anger/rage…or..some sort of deep *forbidden* passion that’s just waiting to come out and explode. Personally, I’ll stick with the Susan Sarandon example.
- August 21, 2006 at 6:01 pm
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I have often heard the term MYSTERY attached to the full-habited version of nuns. As you so aptly noted, this film happens to take one dimension of that. I have to admit I’ve wondered what kind of sister I would be if I were dressed in full habit. Would I be the same as I am now as a “plain-clothed” sister? Would I ask differently? Would I see myself differently? To me there’s no real mystery to being a nun, well, except the highly mysterious fact of God calling someone like me. [smile] Seriously, what was God thinking??
- August 22, 2006 at 12:25 am
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The novelty of a traditional habit would probably wear off very quickly for someone like you; I think that the same applies to any job requiring an elaborate wardrobe; I’m a 12th grade teacher but don’t fantisize about wearing history ties and khaki pants – it’s about the welfare of the students above all; we’re doing what our hearts are telling us to do….; but the reality IS that wardrobe is important – moreso with children and adolescents where the mystery is initially forged……and then cemented in adulthood; but don’t get me wrong, adults can change, just takes longer, haha. Our job is to set the Godly example in whatever we wear as an act of worship.
By the way, the movie is a complete and utter waste of time.
