As long as there are ghost stories to be told, there will be writers and directors making horror films full of supernatural beings and gory, bloody scenes. Some are based on legends, some on novels, and others are supposedly based on true events... if you believe in that sort of thing. There will also always be fans of horror films who will flock to theaters to feel that rush of adrenaline one gets from being unexpectedly scared. Movie studios count on those fans as horror movies are often made for little money and often reap large rewards. Insidious, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010, is a perfect example of that type of film.
Josh (Patrick Wilson; Aquaman) and Renai (Rose Byrne; Bridesmaids) Lambert moved into a suburban home with their three children. Almost from the beginning, Renai noticed some strange occurrences...items seemingly moving on their own, strange noises/voices coming from the baby monitor, etc. When their son, Dalton (Ty Simpkins; Jurassic World) suddenly falls into a coma with no biological reason, Renai starts seeing ghosts. Too afraid to live there anymore, Renai convinces Josh to move but whatever haunted them in their first home followed them to their new one. Bringing in an expert, they discover Dalton isn't in a coma but is spiritually caught on an astral plane.
Director James Wan (Saw) and Wilson have a long, collaborative history together that began with Insidious. Wilson does such a good job here that Wan has cast Wilson in his other films including the Conjuring series and Aquaman. Pairing him with Byrne was another good casting decision because the two have great chemistry. The kids are also good as is Barbara Hershey (Black Swan) as Josh's mom but Lyn Share (There's Something About Mary) is the stand-out among the supporting cast.
The 4K transfer (approved by Wan) gives the picture depth and clean lines. Much of the details can easily be seen despite the dark color palette and black tones. The 2160p resolution and 2.40:1 aspect ratio enhance the video quality, making everything sharp.
The Dolby Atmos audio is crisp and the dialogue - even the whispering of the ghosts- can be heard loud and clear. The sound quality, which is especially important with horror films, is superb and compliments the video nicely. The eerie soundtrack and sharp noises enhance the overall feel of the film, especially the jump scares.
The combo pack comes with the 4K disc, Blu-ray Disc, and digital download. The case is a beautifully designed and raised SteelBook making the packaging look even more horrifying and menacing, offering a glimpse of what will be to come when you watch the film. There are only three extras which are all previously released and housed on the Blu-ray Disc.
The extras include: Horror 101: The Exclusive Seminar, On Set with Insidious and Insidious Entities. If you were hoping for something more, even a peek at Insidious: The Red Door, which opens next month, you will, unfortunately, will be disappointed. Perhaps they will add some more extras on a five-disc set at some point in the future.
To say the pacing of the film is uneven is an understatement. Insidious starts off slow then picks up in the second act only to race through act three in a jumbled mess. The ending falls apart quickly but leaves the door open (pun intended) for the eventual sequel that came out three years later in 2013.
There have been far scarier movies that have been made and, while some are better than Insidious, there are definitely many more that are MUCH worse. If this SteelBook is going to be the first in what ultimately will be a five-movie collector's set, then the casing alone makes it worth the price.
Grade: B-
