Plenty of things go bump in the night during “Insidious,” the latest shocker from the minds behind “Saw.”
But nary a drop of blood gets spilled along the way, and the film’s best sequences rely on old school horror tropes that never feel shopworn.
Who knew director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Wannell, who practically invented the torture porn genre, could cradle a horror story with such loving care?
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne stars as Josh and Renai, a married couple with three children who just moved into a beautiful old home. Wan captures their workaday routine with a maturity sure to serve him well in future films.
The couple’s oldest child, Daulton (Ty Simpkins) falls while exploring their home’s attic and shortly thereafter slips into a coma-like state. The doctors are baffled by his condition, and months pass without so much as a clue about a possible recovery.
All the while strange things keep happening in the family’s home, leading Renai to believe the house might be haunted.
If only things were that simple.
For two-thirds of its running time, “Insidious” is precisely the kind of horror movie Hollywood usually can’t be bothered to make. It’s sober, meticulously shot and features wonderfully retro music blasts that jerk us back into those afternoon creature features of yore. The audience isn’t insulted by dumb characters, nor do cheap scares take the place of the real deal.
Wan maneuvers around the home like a cat burglar, setting up compositions that leave us guessing where the next jump will originate. And it’s usually worth the wait.
Forget about “Insidious.” “Relentless” might be a more accurate title.
The introduction of Lin Shaye as an old family friend who just so happens to know everything about ghosts is both a blessing and a curse. Her character is flanked by two fellow ghost busters (screenwriter Wannell and Angus Sampson) who provide overdue comic relief. But their machinations steal baldly from “Poltergeist,” and steer the film toward its monotonous finale.
Other grating moments include Crayola drawings which work a mite too snugly into the narrative puzzle, and the sudden appearance of Josh’s mother (Barbara Hershey), a character who helps connect some stray plot points but never feels like a maternal presence.
“Insidious’” final moments erupt like the modern horror movie Wan has been fighting to avoid. We get flashy camera cuts, neat but unnecessary special effects and the kind of epilogue which hints at even more “Insidious” installments. It’s as if Wan and co. were trying their level best not to repeat the mistakes of their peers, but by the final reel threw up their hands and let their baser instincts prevail.
No matter, since “Insidious” still ranks as prime grade horror, an inventive reboot of the haunted house genre sure to generate white-knuckle viewing.
(Photo: Leigh Wannell and Lin Shaye play ghost busters in “Insidious.” Film District)
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds 95% good, with a 5% roll-your-eyes-and-sigh-in-disgust ending.
I can deal with that to see a good haunted house flick.
Liked the film right up until the old family friend and the paranormal investigators showed up then it turned to schlock. I thought the explanation for what was happening was hokey and especially disliked the name the old lady gave for where the boy was. We then have the climax take place in the dark, with dry ice fog to give atmosphere.
I just saw this yesterday and have to say, by the end I was laughing. The whole thing with the extra room and the weird music…kinda ruined all the good startle effect from the first part of the movie. I give this one a thumbs down. Good start, bad end.