“The Nun” is the latest chapter in the massively successful cinematic universe of “The Conjuring,” built by the amazing James Wan. Both a spinoff and a prequel to “The Conjuring 2,” this story takes place in the Romenia of 1952, and centers on the demonic entity Valak, now being challenged by three distinct heroes: the experienced Father Burke (Demián Bichir), the innocent Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), and a colorful villager called ‘Frenchie’ (Jonas Bloquet).

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with British Director Corin Hardy (“The Hallow”) about the experience of bringing this creature to life.

The monster is about to be released into the world. Can you feel the high level of expectation for this film?

Now I do! [Laughs] I am seated here, 5 hours away from the premiere, and I can feel some excitement in my belly. I am looking at one of these giant posters that Warner Bros. have put together, with all the sisters. I am just trying to keep my head grounded and concentrate in talking to you guys.

The way that this character has resonated with the audience reminds me of the response that IT’s Pennywise got. Do you think that having a person in makeup playing these monsters is part of the reason?

Yeah, we are really affected by other human beings. But It all depends on the story and what the creature is: Godzilla, for example, has to be a gigantic creature. As someone with a background in special effects, I think that you can connect with the human heart as long as people identify with what they are seeing. It can be practical or CGI, but it must be grounded. Bonnie Aarons, the actress that plays The Nun, has a very unique personality, look, and aura, and that makes her very special. She is like one of those actors that have brought their own persona into the iconic horror characters that they played like Christopher Lee, or Robert Englund.

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The Warrens in “The Conjuring” movies remind us that the heroes are as important as the villain. What was the counterpoint that this evil Nun needed in order to successfully work as a character?

That’s a great question, and part of the reason why I wanted to do this. It’s a classic Gothic horror story, with an element of mystery to the characters in this journey. Father Burke is a grizzled old exorcist that has been sent to many missions by the Vatican, and something has gone wrong in one of those. So on one hand you have someone that is haunted by his past, and on the other, a novice like Sister Irene that is afraid of her future. Both of them are questioning their faith, while they have to face a demon that is the physical and spiritual manifestation of their own personal demons. I felt that it was a very interesting story and theme to explore.

You shot the movie on location, in these castles of Romania. That helps the actors, the atmosphere… but there are also logistic challenges to overcome. Was it both a blessing and a curse?

Yes, that is exactly right. But it was more of a blessing than a curse. As soon as you get through it, you can get the rewards home to the edit suite, where you cut the movie. You end up with something very tangible, layered and atmospheric. I am a big believer in doing things for real, so we tried to do as much as we could with the actors on these locations, and with practical effects. There were long nights in the mountains, with all kinds of challenges. But we wouldn’t have made the movie in front of a green screen. Demián, Taissa, and the rest, did many of their stunts, so I hope that all of that bleeds into the actors’ performances.

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Talking about the future, are you thinking about taking a break from horror? A romantic comedy, maybe? [Laughs]

No, I won’t take a break. I love the world of dark cinema, whether it’s horror, sci-fi, or crime stories. This is where I feel comfortable. I don’t think that rom-coms will be coming my way in the near future.

THE NUN will be released in theaters on Septermber 7.

When a young nun at a cloistered abbey in Romania takes her own life, a priest with a haunted past and a novitiate on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate. Together they uncover the order’s unholy secret. Risking not only their lives but their faith and their very souls, they confront a malevolent force in the form of the same demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in ‘The Conjuring 2,’ as the abbey becomes a horrific battleground between the living and the damned.