BA_Harrison

(2012-04-30 01:15:06)

Polternormal Activigeist.

Seen Poltergeist and Paranormal Activity? If so, then you'll be in veryfamiliar territory with James Wan's Insidious, which borrows heavilyfrom both of these supernatural blockbusters, but thankfully does sowith just enough verve to still make it a satisfying experience.As in Poltergeist, Wan's film centres around a suburban family—Josh andRenai Lambert (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) and their three kids—whoexperience supernatural activity shortly after moving into their newhome. At first the occurrences are fairly innocuous—strange noises andmoving objects—but after eldest son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) mysteriouslylapses into a coma-like state, the incidents begin to escalate inseverity and scariness.Just like Paranormal Activity, even moving house doesn't prevent thecreepiness from continuing, leaving Josh and Renai no option but toturn to a team of experts (led by the always delightful Lin Shaye), whodiscover that it is Dalton himself who is being haunted—by a hideousdemon intent on occupying the boy's body.Although Insidious certainly won't win any awards for originality, itsuccessfully does what it sets out do do: frighten the audience sillyfor an hour and a half with plenty of well executed jump scares andlots of fun freakiness (watch it and just try and tell me you weren'tweirded out by the sight of that little kid gyrating to Tiny Tim's'Tiptoe Through The Tulips'—mind you, the song on it's own is enough tomake my skin crawl!).

John DeFore

(2012-04-29 14:31:33)

A surprising number of these gotcha moments have the desired effect, and the picture's first hour strings them along through a familiar tale.

Allan Hunter

(2012-04-28 22:03:45)

There are enough jolts, jumps and bursts of gallows humour along the way to recommend it to fans of scary movies.

lkdg32

(2012-04-28 03:08:05)

Pretty lame

Another one of those child is abducted by evil spirits movies. Can'tthey come up with an original idea? In this reason, everything is finebut unexplainably boring in the very beginning of the movie. Then allof a sudden Dalton falls off a ladder and spirits move outside of himfor no reason.He is fine and can walk to his bed, but unexplainably goes into a coma.Then for months the house is haunted but the idiot father can't see it.They move into the new house, and they see it is the kid not the house.For no reason, two of the people they hire are comedians, not seriousactors, the "computer guys". There was also a Martha Stewart lookinglady. This movie was not scary at all but the only difference betweenthis movie and other generic scary movies is this one goes inside thekids'/dads' head to the other realm. Other than that it was the samething you have seen before.In the end the Martha Stewart looking lady for no reason takes PatrickWilson's picture.

brucev13

(2012-04-28 00:07:38)

Finally a genuine scary movie!

It really has been a while for a horror movie to make me jump. And tobe honest the first fifteen minutes did make me wonder if this moviewas going to be any good. And yes,it did. In this case the slow buildup does benefit the tension. And for once they actually put incharacters you like. Not that you learn to know them well. But at leastwe do care for them which of course is crucial in movies like this.Whenevents start happening it is asked of you to put aside logic which youwill be rewarded for.So while Insidious is filled with creepy and scarymoments it is not always super scary. But after a while it does getvery thrilling and tense and it doesn't let go. Must watch!

BloodyMari87

(2012-04-27 16:20:49)

Disappointing

I will first admit that I heard wonderful things about this film, and Ihad high hopes when I sat down to watch it. The disappointment that Iexperienced while watching this film may have been as intense due to myhigh expectations. That being said, it didn't bother me that the storyhas been done over and over again. I wasn't even all that disappointedthat it wasn't as scary as I had hoped (they usually never are anyway).It did have one or two moments during which I was startled enough tojump a bit. What upset me, was how unbelievably stupid it was. Iactually laughed out loud when they referred to the other realm as "thefurther". I get that it was, in part, an homage to Poltergeist (one ofmy all time favorite movies). But really? The Further? I think somelevel of respect for the audience would have been nice. I felt like achild being coddled through a scary story the entire movie. The endingwas one of the more disappointing aspects of the movie. I won't give itaway, but I definitely sat there for a moment as the credits rolled upthe screen feeling truly let down. What we have here is a film thatbegins strong, but after about 15 minutes dwindles to nothing more thana complicated story that never fully makes sense, a few less thanterrifying monsters, and a truly disappointing ending. I know I'm in abit of the minority, the people I saw this film with actually loved it.And they love horror as much as I do (you don't know me, but I LOVE mesome horror movies). So to each his own I guess, but I certainly wontbe adding it to my collection any time soon.

(2012-04-27 07:32:31)

amazing price

This review is from: Insidious (DVD) I got this two days after i ordered it it was about $8 and it just came out so if you like a REAL horror movie this is A MUST BUY!!!!!!!!!!

David Stratton

(2012-04-26 16:45:16)

If the film was attempting to be more than just a horror movie, it doesn't work on that level either.

Jackie K. Cooper

(2012-04-26 01:24:41)

Scary enough to be fun but not scary enough to gross you out - and there is a difference!

Cece

(2012-04-25 03:09:25)

An unexpected surprise...FUN!

This was an unexpected surprise! It had many unique plot twists (the existance of "the further") while incorporating both Asian horror films, American classic horror films and tongue-in-check campy "this is so bad...it's good" aspects.Hard to describe, unless you've seen it, but the audience was screaming, laughing and groaning. Being someone who was raised on old, black and white Samurai movies and foreign films, like "Diabolique" and who loves good supernatural thrillers, old B horror movies (like "The Mummy's Curse" and totally terrible first-time-film-maker scary movies like the "The Fanglys", this was a fun ride from beginning to end.See it, but don't bring your youngsters.

Ryan

(2012-04-25 00:26:35)

Wow, an actual good horror movie!

Not good at writing reviews, so I usually just vote andapprove/disapprove others reviews. However I felt the want to makemention on this movie, the first good horror movie I have seen in atleast 6 years or so. All modern horror movies seem to want to throwblood and gore in every scene, so much so it just disgusts you(unlessthere is something wrong upstairs). I have no clue why modernwriters/directors have to throw that crap in, it's just not scary.This is a good movie that takes horror a bit back to the roots, stuffthat actually makes you jump and keeps you on the edge of your seat.Having said all this, I give it a 8/10 because the ending was horrible.Not going to say anything else, but they could have taken it in a muchbetter direction(the last 15 minutes or so of the movie). The rest ofthe movie more than made up for that though, and don't feel like Iwasted time or money on it.

Maya Szohner

(2012-04-24 19:13:47)

Disappointing And Boring

Seriously, don't waste your time on this movie. It's not scary, it'snot even laughably bad. It's boring and it was painful making myselfactually sit through the whole thing. There's nothing in this movie totry and scare you except ridiculously loud "shock" music. In otherwords, the loudness makes you jump, not the content. What did make me laugh, however, was Lin Shaye's appearance as EliseRainier, the "psychic" slash expert on "the further". All I could thinkof when I saw her was her role as the landlady in "King Pin", ugh.I did not enjoy this movie at all. I watched it because the review onIMDb was high compared to most psychological thrillers, but I now knowbetter than to trust user reviews. I remember the same thing happenedwhen "Snakes On A Plane" came out... the initial score was above 9.0 ifyou can believe it. Tragic.

Karylee Isabel Johnston

(2012-04-24 12:53:05)

If I could rate less than a 1, I would.

Initially, I set out to watch this movie because I'd heard from many,many people how scary it was, and frankly, my goal was to justify myposition that they were all wussies.Well, the joke was on me.I was right, everyone I know is a chicken, this movie is not scary.But, it's also not even remotely entertaining.I had hopes I'd at least enjoy it, as I've quite enjoyed some of theprevious offerings by Wan and Whannell. Now, I'm just angry at Wan andWhannell for dropping the ball so very, very badly. I suspect they owesomeone money, and this is what they did to get it.Find below an enumerated list of my major complaints: 1) I know nothing is really "new" anymore, but this is basicallynothing but Poltergeist with Astral projection. Boring.2) Astral projection? Seriously? Come on. And the Dad being able to doit too? How convenient. Not quite a Deux ex Machina, but close enoughto leave a bad taste in my mouth.3) While I'm on astral projection... I realize that it's difficult to"film" that concept, but seriously, walking around in a house? That'sthe least convincing depiction of astral projection anyone has evercome up with. Seriously. Horrible. Did anyone think that was GOOD? 4) Fist fighting while astrally projecting? Come on.5) Contrary to popular belief, not all North American audiences aredrooling morons, and we don't need to see things like the red door, andthen him flashing back to the drawing of the red door. We didn't forgetseeing the drawings guys... we made the connection. Also, again withthe horse. I don't like my movies spoon fed to me, thanks.6) The demon looks like Darth Maul. The only thing scary about DarthMaul is how many people went to see that other snooze fest of a movieon the big screen, including me twice. If they'd been able to reanimateTiny Tim as the demon to go along with his music, it would have been alot more frightening than the demon they had.So, there were only two things I enjoyed in the entirety of the movie.Two. That's it.1) The creepy smiling people in the house. They look fun, and I'dinvite them to dinner.2) I'm glad the father came back possessed. Though I was hoping it'dhappen to the kid too. But hey, gotta punk out for the North Americanaudiences, right? Can't do that to a kid. Blah.The end is the only thing that saves this from a total zero..5

ccassino

(2012-04-24 01:24:03)

I don't see what all the hype is about..

Yes, I admit in the very beginning (about 20 or so minutes into themovie), it appears rather suspenseful and the movie appears to be goingsomewhere. However, after these 20 minutes are up, you might as wellturn off your TV because what comes after is just ridiculous. I knowpeople say this film is terrifying and that it doesn't use slasher filmelements to be scary, but come on! A man with a poorly painted red faceas the antagonist is just laughable.I even found myself laughing at the horrendous acting.. I mean to saythat if I came into my son's room and his bed and all the furniture wasscattered and broken and there was a bloody hand print on the sheet, Iwouldn't just breath heavily and look a little flustered like theparents in this movie. I would be absolutely terrified.. same goes forwhen the mother sees the man walk through her bedroom in the firsthouse.Regarding "The Further" and the ridiculous walk through the father goesthrough to get his son back, this just proves that Insidious gets worseas it progresses. I watched, daring to believe that this is what peopleregarded as "a terrifying movie." If you are a true horror fan, do notsee this pathetic attempt at a horror movie. Perhaps if you are 15 orunder, you might appreciate this film.

Syngeror

(2012-04-23 01:20:07)

Recommended!

Insidious is both old school and a refreshing addition to thelackluster horror genre, that is ruined nowadays with countless andpointless remakes and cheap scares with loud sounds and flashing imagesof CGI. It reminds me of "The Exorcist" and "Poltergeist" movies. In away there's a lot "80's" feel to it.Scary? Yes! It has an eerie feel to it and keeps you in it's grip andentertained to the end. Some scenes are distinctively creepy andstylish.The movie also looks very good. There's careful attention to detail inFX's and settings are believable. The lack of cheesy CGI is a goodthing and makes this one stand out in more traditional ways. Definitely worth checking out for any horror fans out there!8/10

Roger Ebert

(2012-04-22 11:12:24)

Not terrifically good, but moviegoers will get what they're expecting.

timharries

(2012-04-21 23:32:24)

Are You Kidding Us?

Midway through "Insidious", James Wan's foray into the haunted housegenre, comes a moment so misjudged and tonally out of joint, that acynic might ponder the real intention of those behind this fitfullyscary horror romp. I mention it purely because what has gone on upuntil this point has been for the most part, effective and enjoyable.The premise of the upwardly mobile WASP family having their nest hauledapart by forces unseen is hardly groundbreaking territory, but the slowdisintegration of this cosy, tad too opulent bubble invites the samehint of schadenfreude that audiences may have felt when spirits trasheddesigner chic in genre bedfellow "Paranormal Activity". (Notably,director Oren Peli takes the role of producer here) The restraint Wan uses in the first portion of the film must beapplauded. Much like "Paranormal Activity" the key lies in the domesticspace and in the seemingly mundane. Our first glimpses of the "other"are brilliantly executed - more often than not we are left in horribledread - what was it that just marched across the balcony? where ingod's name did that child in Victorian dress disappear to? The zenith of all this creeping tension comes at that most benign ofplaces; at the dining table, (and in broad daylight) a hideousapparition that comes at you in a snarling flash. A knee jerk momentthat sets the film at a cracking pace, raising audience expectation togiddy heights.Such a tragedy it is then that the film dissolves so rapidly into afairground/video game aesthetic, negating all of the good work gone onbefore in place of ill-judged, generic thrills that feel as creaky andpredictable as the last time you were in a haunted house ride.To take us back then to the point at which "Insidious" takes that fatalstumble: just when our nerves are suitably raw, we see the introductionof two "ghostbuster" dudes, who trade funnies with each other likeextras in a Judd Apatow vehicle. Comic relief is entirely justified anda lot of the time, expected in horror films. The banter here though ison display for too long - the characters come off as too smart, tooknowing, thus plunging proceedings into doubt.When "busting" parafernalia is brought out we snigger, a ripple ofderision that picks at all the plausibility carefully in place. When amedium starts to do her thing, (whilst wearing a gas mask no less)those sniggers turn into out and out howls of laughter - the like ofwhich no amount of spooks or kooks could ever hope to dispel.In short, a great opening 45 minutes followed by a needlessly botchedsecond half. How sad that it is that it should be two of the charactersin the film that reveal the smoke and mirrors, from which all of thefilm's horror emanates.

(2012-04-21 11:29:27)

Lamefest

Starts off OK and then slips into bizzaro world. This movie has "should a, would a, could a" written all over it. Cheeseball demon is included with some ghosts that are not scary once they are revealed. The director shows too much and leaves nothing to the imagination. Disappointed with 75% of the film and it is so disappointing I can't recommend the decent beginning at all.

Ludwig Blomquist

(2012-04-21 03:57:04)

The best new- released horror movie fore a Long time!

Insidious is probably the best horror movie I've seen in a long time.Getting tired of the "they live inside a cabin in the woods withoutcoverage on your mobile" look. This is really something new that makesyou not know exactly when something will happen which makes you scared.The story is well written and very good actor in my opinion, it comeswith the act and is something I appreciate very much of a horror movie.I fought It would be just like that when I saw that the guys from "SAW"directed it ques they are weary talented and together with the"Paranomal Activity" gang, they have created together a masterpiece ofHorror category. So get ready with the popcorn bowl, call all you'refriends and pull the home theater to max "cause its gonna be a bumpyride"! :)

nobelbd7

(2012-04-20 11:34:26)

The devil looked more like Darth Maul than a devil...very funny ending

well after going through the other reviews i am kind a scared to rightwhat exactly i have thought about the movie.Well it started very well till the point where the alarm went off. Nowalarm went off husband running around the house with an iron bar andwife was staying in the kid's room without even trying to call thepolice. Well I am a bit realistic freak. What would you do?? call thecops or wait for your husband to be a hero or get killed? Second pointwhen they moved into the new house where did the 2nd boy go?? Did notshow him for a bit.The ghost catcher lady said the husband was scared to take pictures.When she said that the wife looked really surprised!! Well you aremarried to someone for years who does not have any photo since childhood will raise some questions.and also the grand mother knew her sonhad the same problem. But she did not think it is important to sharethat. specially when they moved house because it was haunted andstrange things were happening.At the end the whole devil trying to get into the real world scene wasmore funny than scary.Anyway I normally do not analyze too much,come on it's a movie!! Butwhen I sit down to watch a scary movie I do not expect devil to looklike a joker from a circus or more appropriate he looked more likedarth maul from star wars.After this time I am never watching a movie reading reviews from IMDb.To be honest I would be really scared after watching this if I was 10year old.