INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2
BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
James Wan leads yet another subtle throwback to classic horror with “Insidious: Chapter 2,” masterfully building off the original with more jolting scares and creepy characters, while revisiting many of the same ideas touched on in the original, and thus expanding them, especially in regards to “The Further.” Patrick Wilson dives headfirst into his character, Josh, coming off like a contemporary Jack Torrance from “The Shining” yet more afflicted by the demon possession rather than any allusions to alcoholism. With multiple story-lines progressing, Wan takes on twice the adventure with this sequel, allowing for an engaging mystery arc as Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) and the paranormal experts delve into the history of the demon possessing Josh (Wilson). Rose Byrne brings the same energy to her role in “Insidious” and never takes away from the action, as does Lin Shaye, who becomes the post mortem hero of the afterlife. Believable imagery, immersive sound design effective cutting make for some impressive jump scares. Trading back gore and shock value for good old fashioned horror, “Insidious: Chapter 2” is an entirely worthy rival of the horror genre and the perfect benchmark of where fear should be.
RELEASE DATE
September 13, 2013
DIRECTOR
James Wan
WRITTEN BY
Leigh Whannell
James Wan (story)
STUDIO
FilmDistrict
PG-13
(for intense sequences of terror and violence, and thematic elements)
HORROR
MYSTERY
THRILLER
106 minutes
CINEMATOGRAPHER
John R. Leonetti
COMPOSER
Joseph Bishara
EDITOR
Kirk Morri
CAST
Patrick Wilson
Rose Byrne
Lin Shaye
Ty Simpkins
Barbara Hershey
Steve Coulter
Leigh Whannell
Garrett Ryan
PRODUCED BY
Jason Blum
Oren Peli
BUDGET
$5 million
Seeing what Wan did with the Conjuring makes me realize that he’s capable of so much more. More than this, at least. Good review.