Insidious

Directed by James Wan

Written by Leigh Whannell

Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson

103 mins

A promising start, but the ending is a let-down.

If you’re expecting one of the most terrifying films ever, you’re going to be disappointed.

I certainly was.

I’m not going to lie, I don’t do horror films. I was anxious just seeing the poster for this film, so I went in prepared to be scared out of my wits. And it started off really well, with your typical creepy haunted house with shifting items and strange noises from the darkest corners. I was jumping every time I saw even a glimpse of a shadow. However, the explanations became too far-fetched that it lost me, not through lack of understanding, but lack of intrigue.

The story follows Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne), a young couple who have just moved into a new house with their three children. Soon one of the boys falls into a state that resembles a coma, but doctors have no explanation for it. Renai starts hearing voices and seeing things, and trying to convince her husband to believe her seems difficult. After a series of further unnerving events, they finally move house.

Now here’s the twist. I won’t give it away for those of you who want to go see this, but let’s just say the troubles don’t end there. It’s also where it starts to get a little weird. I felt like there was almost too much explanation given. And the world that was trying to be created seemed so abstract and devoid from reality. I’m not arguing that’s a bad thing, it’s just I didn’t feel a strong enough connection with the characters to believe the story would pan out the way it did. And in the end, I didn’t feel scared when I walked out of the cinema.

I don’t want to bag everything though. At times there was some highly skilled camera work, but at other times it felt like the special effects were overdone and were trying too obviously to make you scared. It became less about the creepiness factor, and more about the shock factor of the sudden loud music or flashes of shadows. I felt the actors did well with what they were given, but the story was lacking and the dialogue was frustrating.

To be honest I haven’t seen Saw, or Paranormal Activity for that matter (I tend to avoid horror movies like the plague), but knowing that the co-creators of Saw, James Wan and Leigh Whannell, teamed up with the producers of Paranormal Activity to create Insidious, I expected better. I appreciate what they’re trying to do, change it up a little and give us a new spin on a horror movie. Unfortunately though boys, I don’t think you delivered. I know I’m not a lover of horror, so if I didn’t leave with chills, it doesn’t give me much hope for those who do love a good scare.

At times it was even a little humorous. Some of it was intentional I know, but I don’t think the writers would have been pleased with the extent it reached. In fact, when the lights came on at the end, everyone had a bit of a giggle. Now what does that say about a scary movie?

You may like...
MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE	Movie Review: Just Go With It	Book Review & Interview: Beneath the Shadows, by Sara Foster	Movie Review: The Tempest

Return to top

Home