10 Details in The Nun You Missed That Connect Directly to The Conjuring Universe

Spoiler Warning: This article reveals major twists from The Nun (2018) and connections to other Conjuring Universe films.

1. Valak First Appeared in The Conjuring 2

Before getting a movie of its own, Valak terrified Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring 2 (2016). The demon appeared as a terrifying nun who haunted Lorraine and manipulated events surrounding the Hodgson family.

The Nun takes us back to 1952 to explore the demon’s fictional origins and explain how its influence eventually reaches the Warrens.

2. Annabelle: Creation Introduces Valak Before This Movie

Remember Sister Charlotte’s photograph in Annabelle: Creation? One mysterious figure in the picture resembles Valak, even though Charlotte cannot identify the nun.

That image connects the two prequels and hints that the Romanian abbey’s darkness existed before the events of The Nun.

3. Frenchie Is Actually Maurice

Frenchie seems like a helpful local who guides Father Burke and Sister Irene around the abbey. But the ending reveals his real name: Maurice.

This is the same Maurice shown during an exorcism video in The Conjuring (2013). The reveal transforms a seemingly happy ending into a chilling bridge between the movies.

4. The Final Scene Recreates a Moment From The Conjuring

Near the end of The Nun, the film jumps forward to Ed and Lorraine Warren giving a presentation about a possession case.

The footage of Maurice connects directly to the lecture scene in the first The Conjuring. The earlier movie now carries a new meaning because viewers understand how Maurice became connected to Valak.

5. Valak’s Escape Explains Lorraine’s Visions

In The Conjuring 2, Lorraine experiences disturbing visions of the demonic nun, including the terrifying image she paints.

The Nun suggests that Valak’s connection to the Warrens began through Maurice. This helps connect the demon’s escape from the abbey to its later obsession with Lorraine.

6. The Name “Valak” Appears in Hidden Places

Keep your eyes open during the film: Valak’s name is hidden in background details, including playground equipment and a vehicle’s license plate.

These little clues suggest that the demon’s influence may reach beyond the abbey. They also reward fans who enjoy pausing horror movies to inspect every suspicious background object.

7. Sister Irene and Lorraine Share an Unusual Gift

Both Sister Irene and Lorraine Warren experience visions connected to supernatural forces. Irene sees disturbing images and receives spiritual impressions, while Lorraine’s visions help her understand the entities she investigates.

There is also a real-life connection: Taissa Farmiga, who plays Irene, and Vera Farmiga, who plays Lorraine, are sisters. However, the films do not establish that their characters are related.

8. The Blood of Christ Doesn’t End Valak’s Story

Irene uses the blood of Christ to drive Valak away and seal the gateway beneath the abbey. It looks like a victory—but Frenchie has already been possessed.

This explains why Valak can continue influencing events long after the abbey’s immediate crisis ends. The demon’s apparent defeat is really the beginning of its wider story.

9. The Opening Connects Back to The Conjuring 2

The Nun opens with imagery of Lorraine’s terrifying encounter with Valak, reminding viewers where they first saw the demon in the franchise.

This framing gives returning fans a familiar starting point before the story travels back in time to Romania. It also makes clear that the prequel is part of a much bigger story.

10. The Ending Sets Up The Conjuring’s First Major Case

The final twist establishes Maurice as the possessed man featured in the Warrens’ presentation. That presentation impresses Carolyn Perron, who seeks their help with her family’s haunting in The Conjuring.

One character’s survival at the end of The Nun therefore becomes the link that brings the Warrens into the first film’s story.

Final Thoughts

The Nun fills in important pieces of the Conjuring Universe timeline. Valak’s earlier appearance, the hidden name clues, and Maurice’s shocking identity connect the film to both Annabelle: Creation and the main Conjuring movies.

The biggest twist is also the simplest: Irene believes she has stopped Valak, but the demon has already found another way to escape. That makes the ending more than a jump scare—it changes how we understand the franchise’s earlier events.