Movieman Madness: Cinema Spotlight IV - James Wan (Part 4): 'Insidious'

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson)

James Wan had three movies down but none reached the success of his first film. In a genre where spilled blood, gross guts and teenage stupidity made for quality entertainment, Wan refused to be part of that and wished to do an old-fashioned horror movie that didn't rely on those tropes. Working once again with Leigh Whannell, the two conjure up a ghost story that took viewers to the other side.

Renai listening on the baby monitor that her child is not alone.

Strange things are happening in the Lambert's new house. Noises at night, doors moving on their own, and shadowy figures looming in the dark. Despite her husband Josh (Patrick Wilson) insisting that nothing is wrong, Renai (Rose Byrne) begins to worry that they may not be alone. What's worse is that the occurrences have an affect on one of their sons Dalton (Ty Simpkins) that he falls in a coma. Out of options, they are recommended a psychic named Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and her paranormal team Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson). They suspect a ghostly presence lingering within the family and that Dalton via astral projection is lost in a spectral-limbo they call The Further, a place where spirits aren't the only thing residing.

Josh and Renai finding their comatose son.

Everything that worked in Dead Silence (production design, and practical effects) is enhanced and everything that didn't (characters and storytelling) is improved in Insidious. It starts as a classic haunted house, then a possession movie, until finally descending into The Twilight
Zone when The Further is introduced. Once in this different dimension we explore the area like a theme park attraction as we pass by familiar places now given an uncanny redesign and non-threatening but eerie-looking denizens. Their creepy stare in total stillness is taken right out of Dead Silence, along with a character holding a lantern as they trek into the darkness to confront the supernatural menace. Adding to the callbacks is the revelation of why the family is being tormented with an event that occurred in the past and the traditional Horror movie twist ending.

Specs and Elsie

As you can you tell, I really enjoyed this movie. Insidious finally gave way for Wan and Whannell in displaying their strength in scaring the audience. The jump scares are well-utilized, Wan's signature use of fast editing, and the cinematography on displaying the interior of the Lambert's house in both the real and ghost world. The spectral figures take inspiration from Mary Shaw with the spooky make-up and design, most notably Navajo actor J. Larose and Joseph Bishara (who gets double duty as the movie's composer) playing the main monsters.

Josh and Specs witnessing Dalton being possessed.

The biggest update are the characters. For all its faults, Saw worked because you wondered if the characters would make it out alive despite a malicious villain pulling all the strings and messing with their minds. Here its more frightening with a child put in danger and the villain being not of this earth nor can be killed. Going against this evil is not to be taken lightly and we want the family not to suffer anymore. Rose Bryne and Patrick Wilson are great together as the worried mother and skeptical father with Leigh Whannel and Angus Sampson are funny comic reliefs. Lin Shaye is easily my favorite character who acts as a sort of exorcist and Ty Simpkins who can shift from innocent to demonic.

Josh coming across the inhabitants of The Further

Wan's talent materializing in Insidious was only the beginning. For the best was yet to come.

Fishy Foreshadowing:

The first Wan movie where water isn't utilized symbolically, but when Josh ventures into The Further it looks like he is exploring the deep blue sea abyss with its blue-green color with little to no light but his lantern.

Director Trademark:

Leigh Whannell