Director James Wan (Insidious, The Conjuring) has filmed more than his fair share of ghost stories in the past couple of years. While these pop-up fright tales are becoming increasingly familiar, Insidious: Chapter 2 is still skillful enough to work and make for a enjoyable creep out.
Picking up where the first film left off, the story follows the Lambert family as they try to begin a normal life again. However, all is not well. Renai (Rose Byrne) and mother-in-law Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) begin to hear odd sounds from the piano when no one is playing and then see jarring apparitions. Even worse, Renai is put off by the odd demeanor of husband Josh (Patrick Wilson). He wants her to simply ignore the creaks and ghostly figures. Lorraine quickly enlists the help of the surviving parapsychologists from the first film and try to determine who or what is threatening them.
As in the first installment, Wan expertly employs long takes that work in creating a sense of dread. Moments pass and misdirection is used before jarring subjects burst into frame, punctuated with loud string music cues. The techniques described above and imposed liberally certainly aren’t subtle, but work on a few memorable occasions. To be fair, it isn’t quite as frightening this time out. We’ve already seen many of the spirits that populate the world of Insidious. Yet there are still some creepy moments, whether it’s a quick cut to a screaming ghost or a boy listening in on a tin can telephone and receiving a hair-raising message from inside his wardrobe.
And there are also a few new touches. In between the jumps, the leads slowly uncover the history of an old, black-veiled specter behind all the family’s troubles. Of course, as in the original, there is a supernatural trip to the “other side.” Despite the familiarity, a wrinkle is added when a protagonist discovers that he’s not only moving through the spirit world, but time as well. As a result, there are clever moments that pay off some strange sights early on and even explain some of jolts and sounds witnessed in the previous film.
Many of the film’s most tension filled moments are followed up by a bit of humor, often from the paranormal researchers. Perhaps most unique and pleasing among recent horror outings is the finale. Unlike many that cut to credits without a proper climax and resolution, this sequel definitively ends the Lambert family storyline (although the final scene suggests the possibility for a spin-off sequel should audiences or executives demand it – though it’s probably best for all involved to quit while they’re still ahead).
In the end, the effectiveness of Insidious: Chapter 2 can be determined fairly easily. Is it reasonably well acted, does it do anything new, is the mood created by the filmmakers unsettling and menacing, and finally, do the jump scares work? Indeed, every one of these questions can be answered in the affirmative. So, while it’s more of a funhouse ride than serious straight-faced shocker, it’s a solid sequel that’ll give its target audience the heebie-jeebies.