blessedmakerCurator
Overall7Fear5.5Atmos.6.6Gore1
Brand new storyline (same concept, obviously), new characters with one returning (Elise! Still looking like a spry chicken ready for the next adventure in the Further). Was really curious how this one would land, and overall I'd say this was a very solid new entry in the Insidious universe. I'd never seen the lead, Amelia Eve, before but she was serviceable as the new protagonist cursed with an ability not yet seen - the engine for the film, and I thought this added a nice new layer to the established rules of the universe. Fresh enough to feel unique and different, while still working with what we as viewers have come to expect.
New (to me) director Jacob Chase serves up fear in the first half quite well; the screenplay doesn't fall into any of those cringe-inducing, predictable jump scares that pollute what could have been good horror films. At this point, for us horror fans, we've kind of seen it all when it comes to variations of jump scares, so instead of trying to re-invent the wheel, I think what helps set up the scares well is the build-up, the setting, and the progression of the scene. And this is where I think he nailed it. Without getting too much into detail, there is a horrifying, grotesque scene involving dental work - I'm 100% sure I looked away briefly multiple times, and this was just the build-up to the true scares.
The latter half of the film loses the momentum of its scares, and I think it's just because of the way the story goes. Without risking spoilers, the climax here gets louder and more kinetic, and as a result the potency of the fear inevitably wanes. Which may not necessarily be a bad thing - I think it just depends on what you're going for. The first half works on dread and fear, the latter on thrills, action, and overwhelming the senses.
Great first romp in a new direction for the universe. If this film is an indication of the quality we can expect from future installments, this franchise is heading in a healthy direction.
