Movie Review: Insidious: Chapter 2

Continuing in doing the first list in reverse for sequels, the next Blumhouse movie review is: Insidious: Chapter 2.

This is a movie that literally picks up right where the last movie left off, AND it focuses mostly on the creepy character old woman-thing from the first movie. Since it picks up so close to where the last left off, it keeps the same cast. That’s good for the movie, because the cast was good for the first one. A lot of franchises hit a stumbling block when they add sequels — this isn’t the block for Insidious. This is a good horror movie, and a good horror movie sequel.

Also, continuing in the tradition of the first one, there aren’t a lot of effects. Mostly they use them for the other/after world, which is a staple in the series. Even those effects are low key, mostly darkness and fog. That kind of helps this movie because it relies instead on slowly building the terror of what they’re facing. I like that for this style of film and they pulled it off well.

As I’ve mentioned, I’m a big fan of the sort of, creepy, not too seen monster/ghost/demon. Probably why I like several Blumhouse films. In this movie we do have a face for evil, and man is it a creepy one. Spoiler alert, stop reading here if you don’t want to know what is up.

Okay. Just people who want to know what is up?

The old woman/dark bride from the first film is back, and she’s played by a dude again. That is part of what made her so eerie in the first time — there was something uncanny and odd about the very being of the person. But this time around they delve into the past of the old woman/dark bride… and it’s a twisted-ass dude who did twisted-ass stuff.

That makes it more creepy, because in life it was just a scary person. Totally plausible. And once we accept astral projection it’s totally possible to believe that a real jerk-ass might be able to hold on once their body dies. They build and build toward this, building up the suspension of disbelief, and that’s what makes it resonate so much in my opinion.

All in all, this is a solid movie. It’s not as original as the first, obviously, but… it builds on it in a way as to make this a wonderful sequel. I’d recommend it, especially if you liked the first film.

Report Card:
Running Time: An hour forty-six.
Acting: Good, and the cast clearly gels.
Effects: There aren’t many, and that helps.
Violence: Yes, but no.
Gun Use: It wouldn’t make sense.
Gore: No.
Creepy? Yes, that old fart scares me.
Monster Type? A very powerful ghost, mostly.
Funny? It has its moments.
Nudity: None.
Pacing: Decent, with a roadblock or two.