MOVIE REVIEW: Insidious: Chapter 3

Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) gets more than she bargained for when she tries to contact her dead mother.

Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) gets more than she bargained for when she tries to contact her dead mother.

Published Jun 19, 2015

Share

INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3

DIRECTOR: Leigh Whannell

CAST: Lin Shaye, Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson

CLASSIFICATION: 13H

RUNNING TIME: 98 minutes

RATING: ***

AS rare as horror movies are on the big screen, it is even harder to find a decent one. Too often, fans have been lured to the cinema by the mere fact that it was a genre they loved. Despite being filled with optimism that it will be better than the last, the film sometimes ends up being worse.

And it really does not matter what subgenre these movies fall into. Yes, some (by this I mean teenagers) prefer those of the blood- spattered, gruesome ilk á la Hostel or the Saw franchise. Others relish the psychological aspects as witnessed in The Silence of the Lambs and The Skeleton Key. And then there are those good old-fashioned supernatural horrors. You know, the one where you are afraid to breathe and dare not move in your seat.

Irrespective of preferences, though, there is one unifying factor – that insatiable hunger for decent hair-raising frights.

Unlike Poltergeist 3D, a gimmicky remake, Insidious: Chapter 3 is a prequel that saves the franchise from meandering into tacky and cheap thrills territory – not uncommon in sequels, as such.

Whannell (Saw franchise) makes a praiseworthy directorial debut with this instalment. That he is schooled in the fundamentals of horror, setting the stage with a gloomy albeit believable background, maintaining that menacing ambience and, of course, unleashing those scares at perfectly-timed moments, is manifested in every frame.

It also helps that he penned the first two offerings, which gives him the edge when it comes to continuity.

The story starts with Quinn Brenner (Scott) seeking the assistance of retired medium, Elise Rainer (Shaye). Quinn, an aspiring actress, wants to contact her late mother whom she believes has been trying to get in touch with her. Unable to help her as Elise is dealing with her own demons (her husband committed suicide and there’s a spirit that wants to kill her) Quinn leaves.

A few days later, she is run over on the street. But it soon becomes apparent that there was nothing accidental about this accident.

When Quinn arrives home with both legs in a cast, bizarre things start happening. Her father Sean (Mulroney) becomes gravely concerned and begs two highly ill-equipped ghost-busting bloggers to help. That’s when Elise braves her fears and steps in.

Insidious: Chapter 3 is dark and laden with spine-chilling moments, and a few humorous moments in between. As much as the focus is on the haunting of Quinn, it also draws parallels to the fear that is haunting Elise. Their stories are masterfully intertwined.

Whannell offsets the supernatural mayhem with a palatable dose of regular life, at first, before sneakily luring viewers into the sinister recesses of his imagination, where the battle for one soul rages on in the other world.

I have to admit, this movie put the fear of something in me. It’s not often I jump in my seat more times than I care to share. A sign of a damn good horror… finally!

If you liked the first two Insidious films, Annabelle or The Conjuring, you’ll like this.

Related Topics: