Insidious: Chapter 2
Review by Tevan
Keltner
Directed
by James Wan (Writer)
Screenplay
by Leigh Whannel
106
Minutes – Horror, Thriller
** out
of ***** Stars
Hot off
his immense success with his horror blockbuster “The Conjuring” director James
Wan is at it again. Only this time, the first film did not warrant a sequel nor
did it require an explanation of its twist ending, which is over analyzed and
dragged out until the material is literally beaten to a bloody pulp, and
buried. If you believe James Wan wanted to make this film, you are sorely
mistaken. Even writer and actor Leigh Whannel was not in any way motivated,
except by money, to write a gripping script.
Now is
it entirely bad? No not at all. There are still elements of the film such as atmosphere
and timing that deliver great scares and the actors are doing their best with a
wooden script. They even find a way to bring back Lin Shayne from the first
film. It is also a shame that Patrick Wilson gives a chilling performance in a script
so boggled and pointless that it only serves to demean his performance. James
Wan did a good job attempting to treat the material with as much respect as
possible. Unfortunately, this movie did not need to be made. The first story
was enough and beating a dead horse is supposed to be “Saw” territory.
There is a story here and it is thought out. Leigh
Whannel’s can definitely tell a tale. And it does live up to the Chapter 2
title. It’s a direct sequel and this movie literally starts the day after the
first film ended. The Lambert family has moved into Josh’s mother’s (played again
by Barbara Hershey) house, hoping to escape the horror of their last encounter
with a series of paranormal entities. Hearing Barbara Hershey say: “Whatever
was haunting my family isn’t done with us yet,” makes us groan. Another painful
reminder of a sequel that should not be. This would actually have been a better
Television series.
Is “Insidious:
Chapter 2” recommended viewing? Even to “Insidious fans?” Probably not. While
this film has characters and elements from the first film, it is overall a
complete mess. While the actors do their best with a pitiful script - it just
doesn’t satisfy. Spend that all so important discretionary income, instead, on another
viewing of “The Conjuring” which should still be in theaters. One wonders, once
again, if another paycheck is ever a reason to subject the world of film to
this kind of mediocrity?
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