INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2 (2013) - Movie Review

Director: James Wan
Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Steve Coulter, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Jocelin Donahue
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Writer: Leigh Whannell
Runtime: 106 min
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements
Buy This Movie: Blu-ray (Amazon), DVD (Amazon), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

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Synopsis:

Soon after their showdown with evil spirits that possessed their son, the Lamberts, Renai (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Patrick Wilson), are ready for their lives to return to normal. However, something still is seriously off, especially with Josh, who -- unbeknown to Renai -- is possessed too. In order to free Josh's soul and finally defeat the malevolent forces around them, Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey) and her ghost-hunting friends investigate the past to save her family's future.

Review:

The "Insidious" saga continues with the aptly subtitled "Chapter 2", a sequel that adds a bit of "The Shining" and "Amityville Horror" to the series' "Poltergeist" influences. The first film ended on a cliffhanger, and the new installment jumps right in with the Lambert family relocating to Lorraine's house, where the haunting resumes as Josh was possessed by the mysterious woman in black and is becoming an increasing threat to his family.

The plot also expands on Elise and the Lamberts' backstory as it moves to tie-up loose ends and give audiences a satisfying conclusion. Paranormal investigators Specs and Tucker are also back, and still embarrasingly unfunny. They are, however, joined by a new character, Elise's old friend and colleague Carl, played by Steve Coulter, who has the nifty ability of communicating with spirits using word-dice. It's a rather unwieldy supernatural gift, but the filmmakers make it work in a couple of very dramatic sequences. Performances are still decent across the board, despite some dull dialogue, but this time it's Wilson who steals the show with an over-the-top psychotic turn.

There's a lot happening in this sequel, but very little manages to surpass the simple horror delights of the original film. It very quickly becomes overly convoluted, with a time shifting dimension added to the supernatural elements that helps build a few engaging twists, but otherwise doesn't bring anything groundbreaking to the table, except further muddying what The Further is and how it works. The mystery of the woman in black also ends up not being as interesting as I thought it would be, turning into a by-the-numbers supernatural mystery with some underwhelming developments that ruin the movie's villain. And I think I might be getting fed up with the incessant use of the creaky-door sound effects.

James Wan is still capable of making us jump with some well-timed ghostly appearances, but overall it feels like a lesser experience. It still looks and sounds great, Wan expertly applying old-school practical effects and makeup, and imaginative camerawork, but the filmmaker, hindered by sequel plot requirements, struggles to find new ways to arouse fright. He succeeds, but to a lesser degree compared to the original. "Insidious: Chapter 2" is still a decent horror flick, but I'd say this one is more fun than scary.

SCORE: 6/10