“Insidious” is a horror film that I really want to love. Crafted by James Wan, the 2010 movie is widely regarded as one of the scariest films of all time – or at least the modern horror era. That it came three years before Wan’s near-perfect “The Conjuring” is intriguing.
Watching “Insidious” with a critical eye will yield a blueprint for the splurge of Wan horror films that would own the decade. It includes some of the common elements to his other stories. From the haunted house setting to the casting of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne. Add in demons, clocks, and his personal touches are all across the 101 minute fright fest. It’s not that the movie is bad. But it does fall really short of the upper echelon of horror it’s often associated with.
Here’s what I loved.
The movie includes some of the creepier and original images and motifs one will find. There’s a sepia drench to the film that makes the entire piece feel like a nightmare. Something feels off right from the start, and the directorial choices for framing and layout are to be thanked. The score is intense, like that from “The Shining.” It adds to the overall unease in a natural way.
The cast works really well. Patrick Wilson has been in a ton of movies. I loved him in “The Conjuring” and here, we get his cool and collected demeanor in the role of Josh Lambert. It’s a simple character. Head of a house. Father, parent. Skeptical of all things supernatural despite no other worldly explanations.
Rose Byrne is a perfect Scream Queen
Wilson works well with Rose Byrne who steals the show. As Renai Lambert, she’s the typical nurturing mother and loving wife who gets the most haunted harassment in the story. Rose Byrne is flawless as a scream queen. Her expressions can convey sheer terror with the most effortless ease.
They have creepy kids, of course. A piano, which only adds to the ambiance. There’s even a terrifying baby monitor. The fact that the house looks like a modern suburban home is nice. Too often the people are living in a dilapidated estate that is obviously haunted.
But the plot gets wonky, and seems to interfere with the horror. It was nice to see the Lambert’s actually move at one point – something movie fans want to scream at the TV when watching this kind of story. But the move didn’t matter for the overall plot and gets lost in the confusion of everything else that’s happening. The handful of really terrifying scenes are coupled with some over the top ones that seem amateurish. Maybe it’s James Wan finding his way. As stated before, “Insidious” would come three years before “The Conjuring” which offers a similar premise with far better results.
Nevertheless, “Insidious is a fun horror movie. It has its flaws but should be watched by all in search of something scary. As we immerse into our 11th annual 31 Days of Halloween, this one is best served with friends at a party – and the lights out.
“Insidious” is currently available to stream on Netflix.
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