Insidious was one of my favorite movies of 2011 and one of my favorite mainstream horror films in years. So much so, in fact, that I even wrote a song called “The Further” that I perform with my band The Casket Creatures! I have always been a sucker for paranormal horror, so I was thrilled with the way Insidious took a classic formula and proceeded to go batshit crazy with it. Introducing us to an otherworldly realm called The Further, various ghouls, spirits and demons along the way made Insidious a franchise that could go on forever if the quality didn’t decline.
Quinn (Stefanie Scott) is the victim of the evil spirits from The Further in “Insidious: Chapter 3”. Photo by Matt Kennedy.
Insidious: Chapter 2 was a solid follow up in 2013, with fewer scares, but more backstory that seemed to make the first movie feel complete. When Insidious: Chapter 3 was announced, I was beyond excited – that is until I found out director James Wan was leaving the franchise to direct The Rock in Furious 7. I was very concerned that the atmosphere and the movie as a whole just wouldn’t feel the same, and that would kill it for me. About ten minutes into the movie, however, all of these fears went away and I realized that Leigh Whannell, who wrote the first two Insidious films and assumes the roles of both writer and director for this one, knows exactly what he is doing with this franchise. He nailed the pacing, sound design and the overall atmosphere of the other two films, which I imagine would have been hard for anyone else to do.
Chapter 3 is a prequel to the original that, at first glance, would leave you to believe that it is about a new family with new ghost/demon problems. Same Further, different day. The plot involving the new family is very well done and I really found myself caring about these people and the horrible things that they were going through. Immobilizing protagonist Quinn (Stefanie Scott) for most of the movie offers a unique tension throughout the film. In my eyes, the star of the movie is the medium Elise, played by the incredible actress Lin Shaye, reprising her role from the first two films. At this point in the Insidious timeline, Elise has sworn off using her gift and is very fearful for reasons that are revealed as the story progresses. Seeing her character progress into the badass we all know is extremely gratifying. The lovable ghost hunting duo of Specs (Whannell, who has some great tongue-in-cheek dialogue) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) turns up as well to show us a very amusing look at their early relationship with Elise, the woman they grow to respect and work closely with in the future. (Wan also makes a cameo, appropriately enough, as a theater casting director.)
Quinn’s father Sean (Dermont Mulroney, left) talks to paranormal investigators Tucker (Angus Sampson, center) and Specs (Leigh Whannell, right) about how to save his daughter from The Further. Photo by Matt Kennedy.
There are things about this installment that I’m not crazy about. The segments in The Further, for example, aren’t as awe-inspiring and chilling as they were before. Something about this whole film feels more grounded and less surreal than the first two. It losses a little bit of the insanity and it lowers the stakes overall. That being said, it is a very strong entry to the franchise and, if the quality stays at this high level, I will continue to look forward to future installments as they come out. I highly suggest Insidious: Chapter 3 if you are looking for a worthy theatrical horror experience. In a world full of mainstream horror remakes and reboots, it is good to know that films like Insidious are out there creating new worlds and lore and trying to scare the pants off audiences around the world.