Movie Review – Insidious: Chapter 3

The first Insidious movie sent chills down the spines of audiences everywhere back in 2010. So much so in fact that a sequel found its way to theaters in 2013. The first two movies intertwined in such a way that makes seeing one without the other virtually impossible. In this third chapter a different approach is taken. Insidious: Chapter 3 is a prequel and focuses on a family that Elise Rainier decides to help which ultimately leads to setting up the other two Insidious movies.

Quinn lost her mom less than two years ago and ever since that time she has not been the same. While still attempting to cope with the loss she feels overwhelmed with the current responsibilities on her plate. Quinn is still in high school and has higher aspirations than just attending a local college. She hopes to leave her current situation and attend a school for the performing arts in New York so she can follow her dreams. The hurdles that she currently faces involve caring for her younger brother and assisting her dad when and where possible. Still feeling the need to talk to her mom Quinn reaches out to contact her through “less than traditional” means. Unfortunately the response that she receives is not one that she expects.

Insidious: Chapter 3 revolves around the Brenner family which ends up being the catalyst that gets Elise (Lin Shaye) back in the supernatural game of being a medium. Fans of the previous two movies are treated to several familiar faces both of this world, Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), as well as those that are from another place entirely such as the Bride in Black. The beauty of the way these characters are brought into the film is that they have a multilayered impact on the viewers depending on their personal familiarity with the franchise itself. To newcomers, they’ll appreciate what’s in front of them at the moment whereas the veterans of the series will sport that knowing smile because they have witnessed the various outcomes.

The fear factor of Insidious: Chapter 3 is pretty impressive. There are many scenes that will leave the audiences feeling uneasy and jumpy only to be followed by nervous laughter as the mood subsides. The key to any movie like this is to garner these types of reactions from the crowd. It looks easy to do on paper but to actually accomplish this feat in the real world is something else entirely. People like James Wan and Leigh Whannell understand this dynamic very well and are usually able to evoke the types of responses that bode well for this type of genre. Thankfully there are quite a few jump moments throughout the film leading up to its armrest clinching conclusion.

Honestly the only real problem that I found with Insidious: Chapter 3 is the title. Given the fact that it’s a prequel and is being promoted heavily as such why not just abandon the numbers and call it something more meaningful like Insidious: The Preface? Maybe then potential movie-goers that have never seen either of the first two chapters would be quicker to hit the theaters to see this one. So with that being said there are no real flaws with this latest chapter of the horror franchise. There’s no reason that fans shouldn’t flock to this one in the same way that they did in the first two. Leigh Whannell didn’t miss a beat and I’m glad to report that the Insidious franchise is alive and well; primed for yet another successful box office run hopefully leading to yet another chapter.

Check out my exclusive interview with Lin Shaye (Elise).