Director: Leigh Whannell
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Lin Shaye, Stefanie Scott, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson
Certification: 15
Running Time: 97 Minutes
Special Features: Cherry Glazerr: Tiptoe Through The Tulips / Macabre Creations / Origin Story: Making Chapter 3, etc.
There is a certain charm about the Insidious series that captures the imagination of the viewers who brave the cinema screens today. I fell in love with the haunting story of the Lambert family in the first two films and what got me hooked was the old school methods of horror filmmaking that has been forgotten about over the years… the creepiness. Why do you think there was such a fuss this year when children in Ohio, were frightened stiff as they were accidentally shown this film in a local cinema? Inside/Out could never get that kind of reaction! The thought of having an elderly woman in a black dress chase after your soul would give you nightmares for days.
Why do we need a prequel? That’s one question people asked when Chapter 3 was announced. Whannell wanted to explore the psychic character Elise (Lin Shaye) more plus have an excuse to bring her back. The film does not feature the Lambert family apart from one mention so, it feels “new” to an extent. We are instead, introduced to a completely different family dealing with a similar situation years before. It is with this, Elise must break her vow of never using her gift again to help a teenager, from being taken by a demon into the darkness.
There was a worry among social media that with James Waan stepping down as Director to Producer, this would hinder the film. Luckily Waan gave the role to the film’s writer, Leigh Whannell, who also stars. He plays a ghost hunter and stays very true to Waan’s vision but also adding his own stamp. Whannell proudly puts Elise at centre stage in this instalment, who brings an unusual amount of range for a main character in a horror film. From vulnerability to bravery, Lin Shaye is a joy to watch and especially when she coaxes a demon by saying “Come on, bitch!” – Mrs. Weasley from Harry Potter would be proud!
Just like its predecessors, Chapter 3 likes to make you jump out of your skin…a lot! Whanell brings that differently to Waan as he gives the audience respites throughout compared to Insidious 1 and 2 that always held a sense of dread. With this pacing, the director creates several clever and interesting moments that gives the heart a jolt. One particular scene that made me jump the most was the car crash – I shall remember not to wear headphones when watching a horror film again!
Insidious: Chapter 3 is a promising sign the series can carry on without it running out of ideas. The character of Elise, even if she is dead/alive, could easily give Whanell plenty of directions to go in. Just hopefully not like the Saw series…
Insidious: Chapter 3 is available on DVD and Blu-Ray 12th October.
