The fifth instalment of “The Conjuring” horror series, “The Nun,” relies on its overbearing soundtrack of loud bangs, crackles, and roars to keep its audience frightened, but lack of story, character development, and plot makes this film dull and at times laughable.

     In 1952, a young nun committed suicide at a cloistered abbey in Biertan, Romania. The prequel follows Priest Father Burke (Demian Bichir) and Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga), a psychic novice on the verge of taking her vows, are sent to investigate the sacred sanctuary. Accompanied by Frenchie(Jonas Bloquet), a local villager who discovered the corpse while making a delivery.

     Although the film is riddled with creepy imagery, and non-stop jump scares, it still can’t escape the clunky dialogue and un-amicable characters.

     The lead characters seem to have only two emotions, scared and confused. Which is a disappointing contrast from the charismatic Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed (Patrick Wilson) Warren from the previous “Conjuring” films.

     “The Nun” is filmed in many suspenseful first person shots, which gives the impression that Director Corin Hardy wasn’t trying to make a genuine horror film, but a theatrical maze that only needs to be viewed once.

     Unlike its preceders, “The Nun” doesn’t try to sell itself with a “Based on a true story” gimmick. But takes its original horror genre and turns into a borderline syfy fantasy. The demons in the film attack as if they were zombies from “The Walking Dead” and look like beasts from the “Harry Potter” series.

     However, Father Burke and Sister Irene seem to be the most plausible characters trying to fight the demons with prayer. Frenchie shifts from his comic-relief persona to a fearless gunslinger, shooting the demons

     The razor-toothed nun demon known as Valak (Bonnie Aarons) made her debut in 2016 “The Conjuring 2,” a critical and box office success, and the last sequel to be directed by original creator James Wan.

     Wan, known for the creation of “The Conjuring” and “Saw” series, has proved to be todays master of horror and suspense. Considering he hasn’t directed most of his sequels makes the audience believe that there is no passion going into these films other than studio greed.

     Needless to say, the film doesn’t take itself very seriously, and why should it? It’s the fifth installment of a franchise that should have ended two movies ago. “The Nun” opened with a $5.4 million in Thursday evening previews, and has made 53.5 million in 3,786 locations that easily marks the best debut in the series, crushing 2013’s “the Conjuring,” previous 41.8 million, according to Variety.

     Unfortunately we haven’t seen the last of “The Conjuring” Universe with a recent Warner Bros announcement for a “Conjuring 3”.

     “The Nun” like most fifth installments such as “Deathwish 5” or “Paranormal Activity 5,” proves to be the worst of its series and a parody within its own franchise.