The name - Paco Plaza - is almost enough assurance for a horror product to work. Here's a nun movie that's way better than both The Nun entries from The Conjuring universe, and it comes from one-half of the directors of the REC films. This is a prequel to Plaza's 2017 chiller Veronica, focusing on Sister Death's side of things. For a film that just runs for 90 minutes, there's a surprising level of depth in storytelling, and Plaza's use of visual metaphors is on full display here. The "eclipse" aspect is wonderfully incorporated into the storyline, and while the first two acts may come across as slightly less effective from a narrative standpoint, the final act where the dots begin to connect, is truly spectacular. Even in those first two acts, the atmospherics are remarkably set up.

The makers of The Nun films could learn a thing or two, in terms of how to design aesthetically spooky frames. The smart usage of close-up shots, the innovative use of gore, and the commendable performances of the child actors help Sister Death rise above your generic supernatural horror film. The only thing that sort of baffles me, is the makers' decision to add synth beats to a couple of chilling scenes, which made me tune out of the film's madness albeit for a few seconds. I have to say I enjoyed this a bit more than Veronica, and that may (or may not) have to do with how disappointing the recent demonic nun movies have been. This is a solidly packaged pre-Halloween gift indeed.