Insidious:
Chapter
2
is
a
big
letdown
by
director
James
Wan,
who
had
previously
given
us
Insidious
in
2011
and
The
Conjuring
in
July.
While
the
earlier
films
were
well-crafted,
this
one
is
a
far
cry
from
the
earlier
ones.
The
narration
is
a
compilation
of
three
paranormal-demonic-possession
tales
before
winding
up
with
an
unbelievable
climax
set
in
the
nether
world
'The
Further',
where
evil
spirits
lurk.
It
is
the
journey
of
Josh
(Patrick
Wilson),
his
older
son
Dalton
(Ty
Simpkins),
and
Parker
Crane.
Story
The
film
takes
off
from
the
original
Insidious,
where
hypnotist
Elise
Rainer
(Lin
Shaye)
informs
Mrs.
Lambert,
who
complains
of
paranormal
activities,
tha,
the
problem
is
not
the
house,
but
her
son
Josh.
It's
1986
at
the
Lambert
Residence.
Josh
(Patrick
Wilson)
is
now
a
married
man
with
three
kids.
It
is
during
their
process
of
rescuing
Josh's
elder
son
Dalton
(Ty
Simpkins)
from
the
evil
forces,
they
realise
that
he
is
gifted
with
the
ability
to
travel
in
his
sleep
to
'The
Further'.
Meanwhile,
the
Lamberts
struggle
to
find
what
keeps
them
connected
to
the
fiendish
forces.
A
good
thirty
minutes
into
the
film
and
after
a
few
loud
jolt
scares
involving,
closet
doors
opening
on
their
own,
a
zipping
of
a
surreal
vibration,
a
wailing
baby
and
a
self-playing
piano
comes
the
inciting
moment
in
the
form
of
Elise
Rainer's
death
at
the
Lambert
Residence.
She
is
strangled
to
death.
Josh
is
the
suspect
initially,
but
is
cleared
soon.
The
family
is
forced
to
seek
help.
With
the
help
of
paranormal
scrutinising
associates:
Carl
(Steve
Coulter),
Tucker
(Angus
Sampson)
and
Specs
(Leigh
Whannel)
Josh's
agonised
mother,
an
ex-hospital
employee,
Lorraine
(Barbara
Hershey),
helps
them
track
down
an
old
man
Parker
Crane
(Tom
Fitzpatrick)
who
they
believe
is
linked
to
their
problem.
So,
after
rummaging
hospital
records
and
scavenging
Parker's
home,
they
zero
on
to
the
demonic
creature
that
has
taken
possession
of
Josh's
body
to
accomplish
its
evil
deeds.
Performances
The
characters
seem
routine.
Patrick
as
Josh
with
his
vacant
and
blank
expressionless
face
looks
possessed,
when
he
is
not
supposed
to
be.
Rose
Bryne
as
his
paranoid
wife
and
Barbara
Hershey
as
Josh's
concerned
mother
are
unconvincing.
Lin
Shaye
looks
too
dignified
to
be
a
ghost
hunter.
Whannel
and
Angus
as
the
eager
beaver
ghostbusters,
are
supposed
to
offer
comic-relief
but
in
fact
ridicule
themselves.
Screenplay,
Cinematography
While
the
premise
of
this
horror
film
may
sound
novel
and
exciting,
the
problem
that
plagues
Insidious:
Chapter
2
is
that
the
director
has
used
all
cliche
tricks
with
flashlights
and
shaky
cameras
that
make
up
the
horror
genre.
Over
a
period
of
time,
the
scares
seem
generic,
synthetic
and
staid.
The
screenplay
reeks
of
mediocre
events.
Also,
there
is
nothing
absurd
or
novel
in
the
screenplay,
except
for
the
climax.
The
drama
takes
place
in
three
spaces
in
time;
flashbacks
and
present-day
action,
with
parallel
hauntings
taking
place
in
the
'real'
world
and
simultaneous
nightmarish
goings-on
in
'The
Further'.
While
this
is
interesting
and
different,
it
adds
to
the
confusion
in
the
audience's
mind.
The
cinematography,
sound
effects
as
well
as
the
production
quality
of
the
film
are
good,
but
nothing
exceptionally
worth
writing
about.
Verdict
If
horror
is
your
favourite
genre,
then
you
are
bound
to
be
disappointed
with
Insidious:
Chapter
2.
Cast:
Patrick
Wilson,
Rose
Byrne,
Ty
Simpkins,
Lin
Shaye,
Barbara
Hershey,
Steve
Coulter,
Leigh
Whannel,
Angus
Sampson
and
Tom
Fitzpatrick
Director:
James
Wan
IANS