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Thursday, March 11, 2021

INSIDIOUS

Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson
INSIDIOUS (2010). Director: James Wan. 

Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne) seem to have perfect lives when one of their children, Dalton (Ty Simpkins), falls unconscious and doesn't wake up. It is not a normal coma, but medial science is at a loss to explain it. The couple are resigned to keeping Dalton safe in bed at home, but strange things and unearthly visitors further disturb their serenity. Even moving into a different house doesn't help, so Renai's mother, Lorraine (Barbara Hershey), brings them a psychic named Elise (Lin Shaye). Elise tells them that Dalton's astral body is lost in a dangerous dimension called "The Further" and that Josh has to go in and get the boy out before his body is inhabited by something ... horrible. 

Barbara Hershey
Insidious is an effective horror film that is perhaps more creepy than scary, but it is absorbing and builds up suspense nicely. The film has been overpraised in certain quarters, as the Poltergeist-inspired picture is not exactly strikingly original in either plot or images, but as an imitation it is more than okay. Screenwriter Leigh Whannell plays one of the psychic investigators. The film was popular enough to engender three sequels. Patrick Wilson appeared in Phantom of the Opera as well as in Wan's Aquaman. Wan also directed Dead Silence.

Verdict: Achieves the dubious distinction of adding menace to Tiny Tim's rendition of Tiptoe Through the Tulips! ***.   

2 comments:

  1. I must have missed this one, as I love horror movies, surely I would remember anything with Barbara Hershey, and I have loved Patrick Wilson in everything ever since Anges in America. Lin Shaye is great at playing those quirky old ladies, and Rose Byrne is always solid as well. Will look for this one this weekend!!
    -Chris

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  2. Don't feel bad, Chris, I overlooked this one as well. I am now getting all three sequels from the public library. Let's hope they're just as entertaining.

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