Aylmer to Zazzoo and Beyond: Insidious Chapter 2

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Insidious Chapter 2 - Review

Insidious Chapter 2
(2013 - September 13)
Horror | Thriller
1 hr. 46 min.

Rated: PG-13 Intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements.
Grade: B-

Director: James Wan
Writers: Leigh Whannell (screenplay, story and characters), James Wan (story)
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey | See full cast and crew

The famed horror team of director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell reunite with the original cast of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey and Ty Simpkins in INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2, a terrifying sequel to the acclaimed horror film, which follows the haunted Lambert family as they seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.

Two years ago Insidious (2011) racked up a slew of positive reviews to the surprise of most everyone and on its way to a $13.3 million box office for its opening weekend. The film then showed staying power when it lasted an impressive five months in the theaters earning a total box office of $97 million world wide, pretty remarkable for a film produced on a skant $1.5 million budget! 2011’s Insidious absolutely earned its sequel and Insidious Chapter 2 jumps right in where the first film left off.

If you havent seen Insidious, I think you will find Insidious Chapter 2 a bit confusing or at best, somewhat hard to follow. It's been a couple of years and even though I liked Insidious I didn't remember the story all that well and consequently it took some work to remember what was going on with the family. Especially since we just recently saw Patrick Wilson in another James Wan film, The Conjering, (which is still in its first run at the theaters) and it can be easy to fuse the elements of the two films.) Perhaps it would be a good idea to rent Insidious and refresh your memory before you go to see Insidious Chapter 2.

As a primer I've included the trailers for both Insidious and Insidious Chapter 2

and a bonus scene from Insidious

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) has just returned from 'The Further', the spirit world, with his astral projecting son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), and the family believe that they no longer run the risk of losing another Lambert to the spirit world. The family has now temporarily relocated to grandma’s (Barbara Hershey) house, Josh’s mother, but almost immediately after they arrive the bumps in the night, the eerie baby monitor noises and shadowy figures start returning and it has become very apparent that Josh didn’t return from 'The Further' alone.

Insidious Chapter 2 opened very appropriately on Friday the 13th. All the stars from the first film are back for the sequel.

I don't think that this sequel is as quite as good as the original installment, part of that is due to the surprising twists of the first film that are no longer so much of a surprise in the sequel. Yes, it still has some goosebump raising moments, some very creepy scenes and some gotcha scares but the novel surprise elements from the first film have lost a little of their edge. Incidentally, Insidious 3 in on the way.