Review of Insidious (2011) by Shawn P — 27 Sep 2013

"INSIDIOUS: Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way, but with harmful effects". I had my doubts with a PG-13 rating, however I have to say the movie overall was ok for what it was, the film has an interesting look and feel that pays homage to classic ghost stories. It started out good right up through to the middle. Lin Shaye was great as always! I loved the feel of the movie but as it approached the end it went all hollywood and turned into a Halloween party, I found myself laughing at the silliness. That's not to say there aren't some terrific scares along the way but once you get the the last 30 minutes of the movie you'll be thinking WHY!!! Throw a movie away with so much potential! The scare factor disappears completely! The Freddy Krueger shadow in the room was a total rip-off too by the way! LOL I was saying "OMG FREDDY!" For me LESS is more too when it comes to showing the actual ghosts/demons more and more just takes away from the creepy feel. The face you quickly see behind the baby crib through the mesh, PERFECT!! showing ghosts up close over and over dancing to music, EPIC FAIL!!! Also SAW creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell team up for the movie. I'll stick to Paranormal Activity 1 & 2 is I want a good scare.

**CONTAINS SPOILERS** I loved how the movie started, Rose Byrne, her husband and kids move into a house, her son Dalton goes into a "coma" but he is actually a gifted child passed on from his father called astral projection. Which let's you leave you body and approach other dimensions/worlds allowing demons and/or spirits to possess your body.. A few parts around the middle of the movie when doors opened by themselves, and you could hear voices over the baby monitor kinda creeped me out. Also the shot of a face behind the baby's crib through the mesh drapes was eerie. However once they started showing kid spirits dancing, the demon that looked like Freddy Krueger/Jeepers Creepers and Darth Vadar all mixed together sharpening his "claws" or "nails" listening to music is ridiculous and the scare factor was totally gone. It got silly near the end and it ruined it for me. But it was still an ok watch for what it was. Would I buy it on Bluray? No, Would I download it for free? Yes, Would I watch it again? Probably.