INSIDIOUS (2011)
>> Monday, April 4, 2011
While better than most, Insidious could still be better...Ins
idious is insidious. Insidious is insidious. Insideous is insideous... That's the phrase wrapped around and littered throughout the trailer - and indeed, Insidious (the movie that is) is more or less, insidious. For those of you that don't know, the definition for 'insidious' goes something like this:
1. Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects: "the insidious effects of stress".
2. Treacherous; crafty: "an insidious alliance".
This definition fits perfectly with the film - but not in the way that you may think (or want). So why is Insidious insidious? I'll tell you shortly. "It's not your house that's haunted, it's your son..." These are the words as laid out by Insidious' obligatory ghost whisperer, Elise Ranier (Lin Shaye). That tagline itself makes one believe Insidous may be a film like The Omen (1976), Children of the Damned (1964), or even the king of all creepy children-based films, The Exorcist (1973) - and that's not completely wrong either. Insidious does borrow from these classics. The rest of the story, however, revolves around a plot line I'm not keen on talking about due to the 'no spoilers' policy I have. Not that's its amazing (despite a hint of originality), but it does explain things quite well. So, score one for the cohesion of Insidious.
The story begins when Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) falls off the ladder in his family's rickety attic - another obligatory horror movie staple. It's only days after the accident happens (where Dalton appears to be in an 'unexplained', permanent coma) that strange things start to happen in the house. First Dalton's mom, Renai (Rose Byrne), starts hearing strange voices through the baby monitor (a la Signs), then her other son, Foster (Andrew Astor), tells her he's afraid at night because he doesn't like it when Dalton walks around (yes, the one in the coma). It isn't much longer, either, until the real freaky stuff starts to happen.
It's this first part of the movie that I really enjoyed. It played out a lot like Paranormal Activity where the cinematography revealed little things at first that turned out to be big things (and those super-scared you). Then I got to what felt like the climax and that's when the movie reached it's high and I was left thinking "I think I love this movie - awesome." But that's the end of what I liked about Insidious. Again, I won't say why, but at this point the movie became less Paranormal Activity meets The Exorcism (two fantastic movies), and more 13 Ghosts (a movie not so fantastic). Like the trailer says, Insidious is insidious. Why? Because it's a bad movie in disguise.
Regardless of the negatives I've listed, though, I'm giving Insidious an open door. It's still a scary effen movie and most of people's reactions outside of the theatre were "Why did you take me to this?" and "I'm not sleeping tonight". In fact you may be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't think Insidious is effective in doing what it's supposed to - and when it comes to horror movies, what more can you ask for?
idious is insidious. Insidious is insidious. Insideous is insideous... That's the phrase wrapped around and littered throughout the trailer - and indeed, Insidious (the movie that is) is more or less, insidious. For those of you that don't know, the definition for 'insidious' goes something like this:1. Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects: "the insidious effects of stress".
2. Treacherous; crafty: "an insidious alliance".
This definition fits perfectly with the film - but not in the way that you may think (or want). So why is Insidious insidious? I'll tell you shortly. "It's not your house that's haunted, it's your son..." These are the words as laid out by Insidious' obligatory ghost whisperer, Elise Ranier (Lin Shaye). That tagline itself makes one believe Insidous may be a film like The Omen (1976), Children of the Damned (1964), or even the king of all creepy children-based films, The Exorcist (1973) - and that's not completely wrong either. Insidious does borrow from these classics. The rest of the story, however, revolves around a plot line I'm not keen on talking about due to the 'no spoilers' policy I have. Not that's its amazing (despite a hint of originality), but it does explain things quite well. So, score one for the cohesion of Insidious.
The story begins when Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) falls off the ladder in his family's rickety attic - another obligatory horror movie staple. It's only days after the accident happens (where Dalton appears to be in an 'unexplained', permanent coma) that strange things start to happen in the house. First Dalton's mom, Renai (Rose Byrne), starts hearing strange voices through the baby monitor (a la Signs), then her other son, Foster (Andrew Astor), tells her he's afraid at night because he doesn't like it when Dalton walks around (yes, the one in the coma). It isn't much longer, either, until the real freaky stuff starts to happen.
It's this first part of the movie that I really enjoyed. It played out a lot like Paranormal Activity where the cinematography revealed little things at first that turned out to be big things (and those super-scared you). Then I got to what felt like the climax and that's when the movie reached it's high and I was left thinking "I think I love this movie - awesome." But that's the end of what I liked about Insidious. Again, I won't say why, but at this point the movie became less Paranormal Activity meets The Exorcism (two fantastic movies), and more 13 Ghosts (a movie not so fantastic). Like the trailer says, Insidious is insidious. Why? Because it's a bad movie in disguise.
Regardless of the negatives I've listed, though, I'm giving Insidious an open door. It's still a scary effen movie and most of people's reactions outside of the theatre were "Why did you take me to this?" and "I'm not sleeping tonight". In fact you may be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't think Insidious is effective in doing what it's supposed to - and when it comes to horror movies, what more can you ask for?
*Stills courtesy of Alliance Films
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