Insidious is quiet and spooky at the beginning. But, it gradually becomes scarier and louder until the end when it becomes a little too crazy. But, this horror film has a great pace and is very creepy. Director James Wan (Saw) does not go for violence and gore, but is able to create this still tension with just using the sound of a door or a clock instead of machines that will rip your body apart. Wan deserves credit for trading buckets of blood for genuine chills and jolts.
Josh and Renai Lambert (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) have three children and lately, they have been experiencing some strange occurrences going on in their house. When one of their young sons ends up being put in a coma by someone or something, Josh and Renai search for what happened to their son while being haunted in the process. Eventually, Josh and Renai move in to another home. Hopefully, with a new home comes a fresh start. But the noises, sightings, and their son are not getting any better.
The story takes a strange direction once it is decided that their son, not their house, is haunted. It isn’t about noises or ghosts anymore, but evil spirits trapping their boy in a place called “The Further” and they want to take over his body. Once we get to “The Further,” then things become rocky. It just lasts a little too long – still suspenseful. But, it almost crosses into the ridiculous.
However, most of the film stays together quite nicely, and the performances of Wilson and Byrne are a huge part of that. Wilson plays the father who is in denial. He is hopeful that their son will come out of the coma and is practical about how their son fell in to it. On the other hand, Byrne plays the mother who can see it all and is getting more and more terrified every day.
It is she who wants to leave their original home because she believes the house is haunted. while Josh does not want to believe, Renai will make him see crystal clear. Wilson and Byrne make the events that are happening feel real. Every haunting or tense moment is displayed on their face or in their reactions. Plus, a lot of what happens relies on how they act and respond to each other. These two know exactly what they’re doing.
Insidious appears to be a simple haunted house film, but it transforms into something else. While the finale isn’t the best, everything leading up to it is done in a way that makes you dread at every turn and move these characters make. It has that Paranormal Activity feel to it. You almost feel as nervous and scared as Josh and Renai.
This horror film has its own vision of what it wants to be and leaves the gimmicks out of it. It may have a twist like other scary movies contain. It does get a little wild at the end. But, this one will actually scare you more than just a few times. That’s what’s most important here.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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