Insidious: Chapter 2: Movie Review

Let’s face it, horror movie sequels usually suck. They are almost always forced and feel like obvious cash grabs.  However, seeing that director James Wan released one of the best horror films in years a few months back with “The Conjuring” and had never directed a sequel prior to “Insidious: Chapter 2”, I had some hope.  About halfway into the film, one of the characters opens up a closed off room in an abandoned hospital which was filled with rows of dead bodies. He says, what is that smell? The critic next to me and I both say at the same time “the film you are in”. We then give each other a high five.  Yes, “Insidious: Chapter 2” truly reeks .

The sequel picks up from the moment the first film ended. Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) had just returned from the spirit world where he went to find his son. The problem is, Josh might not actually be Josh, but a spirit inhabiting his body.   His wife Renai (Rose Byrne) senses something is different about her husband, but is not sure what. 

Leigh Whannell and James Wan do attempt to expand on the original film’s story with a few semi-creative elements that consist of going back to different moments in time, but those creative moments actually make the film dumber.  What’s worse is that there is not a single scare to be had in “Insidious: Chapter 2”.  Fans of the first should stay clear of this sequel.

By: Marc Ferman