INSIDIOUS

Insidious is an interesting blend of a horror movie. It comes across definitely as a mash up of The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. And I was glad, that instead of going with the little girl again. They centered it around the boy.

It seem to follow the Poltergeist path through the movie, with the sightings, sounds and strange happenings. Right up to the last third of the movie, when they call in the Parapsychologists to investigate the house. Even though they had moved, the spirits had followed them.

Anyone paying close attention would have noticed some hints that things may not be as they appear. And there may be something strange about one other in the house, besides the boy. And pertaining to this person, I saw the ending coming a mile away. But that didn't mean I didn't like it.

To jump ahead about the ending. I would like to have seen a little more about it, not just the abrupt end. I'm fine with the way it ended, but a little more info about it would have been more.. 'Horrific' maybe is a better description. Makes more sense when you know what happened.

The new 'Older' woman lead Parapsychologist was great. I can see her in the role established from Poltergeist. Even though I hadn't seen her since her role in Kingpin over a decade ago. And I liked both her colleagues. They added a slight break in the tension up until this point.

At first I wasn't sure what to think about the last third of the movie. The astral projection stuff, and the whole venture into possession and the astral realm was rather interesting. And the portrayal of it all seemed like something about an old movie from the 1940s or something. With the jump cuts, black and white or washed out imagery, fog and lantern and stuff. By the time it was over, I kind of thought it was just surreal and rather brilliant way to portray it. And it was just downright weird. Which was great for what they were trying to do.

It just didn't seem to mesh with what we were seeing for the first two-thirds of the movie. It felt out of place. So, I don't know what to say about that.

I liked the demon, that was at the center of it all. Forked tongue, hooves and all. Just didn't much care for his face paint.. As every kid there pointed out in ear shot. They put Darth Maul in the movie. Seeing as how most of them were only five years old when Phantom Menace came out.. Anyway..

Even the introduction with the credits and especially the title card of 'Insidious' with the washed out coloring, and shadows playing across it all seemed old school horror. Was a great touch.

Over all I will say it was a great 'Haunted House' movie. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of them lately. Even though they tried to pull the bait and switch and it was really the boy who was Haunted. But, wait he isn't actually kind of thing. Still well worth seeing.

3.5 Stars out of 5