FILM REVIEW: Insidious Chapter 2 ****

It is a truth universally recognised, at least in the world of Film, that unless you’re Peter Jackson and you’ve already got some pretty spot-on source material on your side, sequels are rarely a good idea. This is a thesis particularly applicable to horror movies. I need only say Jeepers Creepers 2 in order to make a a reasonably substantial jab at my point. Thankfully though, with Director James Wan still at the helm, Insidious: Chapter 2 turned out to be just as unnervingly wacky, witty and jumpy as its predecessor, with a few surprises of its own thrown in.

...Chapter 2 sees us back with the Lambert family, Josh (Patrick Wilson), Renai (Rose Byrne) and their two sons. They’re staying with Patrick’s mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) whilst the police inspect their house, after the as yet unexplained murder of hands-on medium Elise (Lin Shaye) at the end of the first film. The family are desperate to put the haunting of son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) by disembodied spectres desperate to steal his young body from beyond the grave behind them. However, this proves somewhat difficult as it becomes increasingly clear that not only have they been followed by the deceased inhabitants of purgatory reminiscent The Further once again, but that something is also very, very wrong with Josh. Lorraine, as well as psychic assistants Specs, played by screenwriter Leigh Whannell and Tucker (Angus Samson) set out to figure out the childhood family secret from whence all this began in order to avenge Elise’s death and save the Lambert family from their torment once and for all.

As with Insidous, this second offering from Whannell and Wan began with typically jumpy, sinister, bog-standard horror film fare. Only, as fans have now come to expect from the pair, with far more wit and originality than much of their competition.  Flashbacks to Josh’s childhood, set long before the timeline of the first film, work particularly well, especially during an exceptional set of scenes later on in which it and the present timeline are set side by side. Again, as with the first movie, the second half of the film wandered off into a totally bonkers area of imagination that will probably prove just as marmite as it did back in 2010. The truly wonderful element of the franchise, though, remains the utter sense of chaos we’re treated to as an audience, the feeling that absolutely anything could happen next. This only intensifies with every passing minute of the film, particularly as its frankly gorgeous cinematography gives the absolute maximum exposure to all the scares. 

The return of principles Byrne and Wilson for the sequel also worked strongly in the film’s favour, lending continuity as well as a familiarity that makes you genuinely root for them throughout all of the madness, parallel worlds and ladies in period costume with creepy lipstick. This tactical use of an anchor is only added to by the marvellous Specs and Tucker, a comic relief double act I have long waxed lyrical about. Their reassuring presence somehow puts us as an audience on even more of an emotional rollercoaster than we would otherwise be, making the laughs bigger and the scares scarier. Maximum credit also to Patrick Wilson, who, without giving too much away, gives an utterly outstanding performance as the father trying to protect his family, eventually becoming just as haunted as they are.

With its descent into total discord, vaguely historical costumes and ever growing body-count Insidious: Chapter 2 is just as gloriously, unashamedly barmy as its predecessor.  If it’s your cup of tea, it’ll knock you out of your seat. Perhaps not to the same extent as with the Lambert family’s first outing, but enough. Certainly enough to warrant the lost popcorn you’ll end up ferreting around on the floor for after the first few door slams. Above all though, its enough to make you nod your head on the way out of the cinema, believing that this was a sequel worth making.

Which in horror film terms at least, is pretty high praise.

****

-          Jen

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