Cast of Characters:
Josh Lambert - Patrick Wilson
Renai Lambert - Rose Byrne
Elise Ranier - Lin Shaye
Dalton Lambert - Ty Simpkins
Lorraine Lambert - Barbara Hershey
Director - James Wan
Screenplay - Leigh Whannell
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements
Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and Academy Award nominee Barbara Hershey team up once again with director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell in the sequel to 2011's Insidious, Insidious: Chapter 2.
Well, kid, if he's talking to himself, the question should answer itself. Following the events that took place in the first film, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) decide that it's best for their family if they stay with Josh's mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey). It seems though that no sooner than they have their feet through the door that crazy things start happening. Renai is naturally creeped out by all the eery occurrences, but unfortunately not everyone's so keen on listening to the "Hey, some crazy shit's going on here, so maybe we should leave." voice of reason. Josh, wanting to move on from what happened, tells Renai she has nothing to worry about.
Turns out, Renai has everything to worry about, 'cause Josh has been acting strange since the events from the first film. His mother notices it as well. Wanting to be done with whatever evil is lurking around their family once again, Renai and Lorraine seek help from a few former acquaintances from the past events to help rid them of these wicked spirits.
Not wanting to be in the dark when it comes to what happened in the first film, I finally rented Insidious earlier this week. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It started out rather well, but then come the final act the story started to unravel in its cheesiness. With Insidious: Chapter 2, despite another effective directorial effort from James Wan, solid performances from the cast, and some dependable scare gags, it's unfortunate that it falls prey to the same problems the first film had. There's no doubt that director James Wan has a tremendous talent for creating an unsettling mood for his horror films, and he certainly brings that to the table here. The problem is the film follows the same climatic resolution that the first film had and we aren't offered anything new with the story's mythology. I understand the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.", but the third act in Insidious didn't really work to begin with, so why rehash it? I do credit both Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell (who also stars in the film) for not taking the material too seriously. It's not without a few unintentionally funny moments (all involving an overacting, abusive ghost mother that makes Joan Crawford look like the Looney Tunes Granny), but there are some effective comic relief laughs from Whannell and Angus Sampson, returning as the ghost hunters from the first film. On top of that, there are also some fairly clever ways in which they tie this and the first film together. Like the first film, though, we get a solid first act, solid middle act, then a weak final act that falls apart and kinda heads into The Shining territory with Patrick Wilson; in fact, there's a moment near the end, very similar to an iconic moment out of The Shining, where I was expecting Wilson to peer his head through the hole and shout, "Heeeeeere's Johnny!!!!".
The flaws are clearly evident onscreen, but Wan's touch does save the film just a bit. It's rumored he's wanting to get out of the horror genre, and while I'd love to see what he can do with other types of film, I hope he doesn't leave horror for good. With the right script, Wan can make magic. Today, when horror is all about how gory you can be, it is refreshing that he wants to make horror films that are more about creating a tense, creepy atmosphere than how much blood and guts he can throw at the screen. There are some creepy moments that work for the film, but it definitely should've gotten a run through the rewrite mill. Then again, the first one should've as well. It's not a bad film, and it does provide some fun that can be had once it's available to rent, but it's not as good as the much more effective horror film by Wan earlier this year, The Conjuring. I give Insidious: Chapter 2 a C+ (★★½).
REVIEWS COMING LATER NEXT WEEK...
What the Hell Were They Thinking?!
Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week
The Family
A Single Shot
Prisoners
Not wanting to be in the dark when it comes to what happened in the first film, I finally rented Insidious earlier this week. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. It started out rather well, but then come the final act the story started to unravel in its cheesiness. With Insidious: Chapter 2, despite another effective directorial effort from James Wan, solid performances from the cast, and some dependable scare gags, it's unfortunate that it falls prey to the same problems the first film had. There's no doubt that director James Wan has a tremendous talent for creating an unsettling mood for his horror films, and he certainly brings that to the table here. The problem is the film follows the same climatic resolution that the first film had and we aren't offered anything new with the story's mythology. I understand the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.", but the third act in Insidious didn't really work to begin with, so why rehash it? I do credit both Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell (who also stars in the film) for not taking the material too seriously. It's not without a few unintentionally funny moments (all involving an overacting, abusive ghost mother that makes Joan Crawford look like the Looney Tunes Granny), but there are some effective comic relief laughs from Whannell and Angus Sampson, returning as the ghost hunters from the first film. On top of that, there are also some fairly clever ways in which they tie this and the first film together. Like the first film, though, we get a solid first act, solid middle act, then a weak final act that falls apart and kinda heads into The Shining territory with Patrick Wilson; in fact, there's a moment near the end, very similar to an iconic moment out of The Shining, where I was expecting Wilson to peer his head through the hole and shout, "Heeeeeere's Johnny!!!!".
The flaws are clearly evident onscreen, but Wan's touch does save the film just a bit. It's rumored he's wanting to get out of the horror genre, and while I'd love to see what he can do with other types of film, I hope he doesn't leave horror for good. With the right script, Wan can make magic. Today, when horror is all about how gory you can be, it is refreshing that he wants to make horror films that are more about creating a tense, creepy atmosphere than how much blood and guts he can throw at the screen. There are some creepy moments that work for the film, but it definitely should've gotten a run through the rewrite mill. Then again, the first one should've as well. It's not a bad film, and it does provide some fun that can be had once it's available to rent, but it's not as good as the much more effective horror film by Wan earlier this year, The Conjuring. I give Insidious: Chapter 2 a C+ (★★½).
REVIEWS COMING LATER NEXT WEEK...
What the Hell Were They Thinking?!
Benjamin's Stash: Video Pick of the Week
The Family
A Single Shot
Prisoners
Though they probably didn't intend for it to happen, I laughed a whole hell of a lot. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteYep, the stuff with the mother and her "HOW DARE YOU!!!!" shouting really got me. Same with the one moment near the beginning where Byrne is surprised to see Wilson standing by the door and while coming off all menacingly he's like, "Sooooo... I'll be taking the kids to school today." That got me and the rest of the audience laughing. The Whannell and Sampson laughs work, but that's 'cause their characters are meant for that.
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