Most horror movies in this franchise dance on the line between PG-13 and R, usually landing the latter just for "terror." The Nun II actually puts the work in to earn that rating through violence. We aren't just talking about doors creaking and shadows moving.

The movie features a priest being burned alive in front of a child, a character’s eyes being violently gouged out, and a sequence involving a "demon goat" that feels like it stepped out of a much darker indie horror flick. The sound design is also dialed up to eleven—the bone-crunching and squelching sounds are prioritized over the dialogue. If your kid is sensitive to "body horror" or seeing characters they like suffer in slow, agonizing ways, this isn't the one.

Some horror movies use tension to tell a story; The Nun II uses tension to deliver a loud noise every eight minutes. It is relentless. For a certain type of horror fan, this is the "ride" they paid for. For a middle-schooler who is just testing the waters of the genre, it can be exhausting rather than fun.

The central villain, Valak (the demon nun), is designed to be a visual trigger. The high-contrast white face and yellow eyes are essentially a "core memory" creator for nightmares. Unlike M3GAN, which has a campy, almost fun energy, or A Quiet Place, which focuses on family bonds, The Nun II is designed to be oppressive.

Because the movie is set in a 1950s French boarding school and centers on nuns and priests, the horror is inextricably linked to religious iconography. Rosaries, holy water, and the sanctuary of the church are all subverted. For kids raised in a religious environment, this can sometimes hit harder—the idea that the "safe" places are the most haunted is a specific kind of psychological friction.

On the flip side, Sister Irene is a classic "final girl" protagonist who uses her faith and her wits to fight back. There is a clear line between good and evil here, which can actually be more comforting for some kids than the "nihilistic" horror where everyone dies for no reason.

If your kid is asking for The Nun II because they want to feel "grown-up" but you know they’ll be sleeping in your room for a week if they see a priest catch fire, try these instead. They hit the "scary" itch without the R-rated trauma.

This is the modern gold standard for "social horror" for the younger teen crowd. It’s creepy, it’s relevant (AI gone wrong), and it has enough humor to break the tension. It’s PG-13 and knows exactly how to play to that audience.

If they want the "vibe" of the Conjuring universe (it’s made by the same team), the first Insidious is a masterclass in jump scares without the graphic gore. It’s PG-13 and relies on "the thing behind the door" rather than "the thing ripping your eyes out."

Wait, why is a racing movie here? Because often, kids ask for the "big R-rated movie" just because it’s the current cultural conversation. If they actually just want a high-intensity theater experience that feels "big," Gran Turismo delivers the adrenaline without the demonic possession.

Get more horror recommendations for teens

If your teen has already seen it—maybe at a friend’s house or a sleepover—don't freak out. Instead, turn it into a conversation about the "craft" of horror.

The Pro-Tip: Ask them about the "magazine scene." It’s the most creative sequence in the movie where pages of magazines flip to form the image of the Nun. It’s a masterclass in visual editing. By talking about how the effect was achieved, you pull the "sting" out of the scare. You turn the demon back into a movie prop.

The Conversation Starter: "Why do you think the director chose to make this one so much bloodier than the first one?" This gets them thinking about audience expectations and how sequels usually "up the ante" to keep people interested, rather than just being scared by the imagery itself.

The hardest part of The Nun II isn't the story—which is a fairly standard "find the holy relic" quest—it's the sheer volume of the scares. If you have a kid who struggles with sensory processing or is prone to intrusive thoughts after seeing scary imagery, this is a "skip." There are no "fake-out" scares here; when the music swells, something bad is actually happening on screen.

Q: Is The Nun II scarier than the first one? Yes, significantly. While the first movie relied on atmosphere and "creepy" vibes, the sequel is much more aggressive with its jump scares and features far more graphic, on-screen violence.

Q: What age is The Nun II appropriate for? While it’s rated R, it’s a "soft R" compared to something like Saw. Most horror-literate 15 and 16-year-olds will handle it fine. For anyone under 14, the intensity and the specific nature of the gore (eyes, fire) make it a high-risk choice for nightmares.

Q: Are there any "red flag" content issues besides the horror? Surprisingly, no. There is almost no profanity and zero sexual content or nudity. It is a "pure" horror movie in that sense—it is entirely focused on scaring the life out of you.

Q: Do you need to see the first Nun or The Conjuring to understand it? Not really. It gives enough backstory for Sister Irene and the demon Valak that you can follow the plot, though the mid-credits scene will only make sense if you've seen The Conjuring.

The Nun II is a well-made, high-budget horror flick that knows exactly what its audience wants: to be startled every ten minutes. It’s not "elevated horror" with a deep message; it’s a ghost-train ride with a lot of blood. If your teen is a horror veteran, they’ll enjoy the craft. If they’re still checking under the bed after a Goosebumps episode, keep them far away from this one.