Review of Insidious (2011) by Kane L — 02 Nov 2013

As orthodox and cliched as it may seem, Insidious stands to prove that the re-use and appropriation of the typical formula can receive amazing results. Insidious is obviously very affectionate towards films such as poltergeist which utilise the same themes and basic plot devices.

It is, or at least appears to be a low budget production which encourages the audience to absorb every detail of the film without questioning at what expenses the film achieved such a glossy look or effect.

This is one of the film's little charming features. It certainly has the power to scare the audience, both with jump scares and disturbing themes. Atmospherically creepy and quite artistic in the sense that it employs tableaus and heavily contrasting makeup to make its entities all the more mysterious and captivating.

The cast are all strong and believable in the way that they work with a script that is perfect. The script doesn't attempt clever eccentricities or overly witty dialogue to produce entertainment but instead formulates a cohesive script which makes an audience relate, for it is filled with the normalities of speech and action found in the every day family dynamic.

The film's most prevalent weakness is how it very rapidly shifts from one tone to another; near the end of the film we are shown the antagonists in their fleshed out form only to be shocked with an array of shenanigans that, although scary, do not align with the mood and tone that the first half of the film set up using suspense and character development.

All in all a very well made film, scary enough to become a cult classic in this decade of lacklustre films.