Insidious brings out the best qualities in a horror film

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2020)

Insidious is a True Horror Film
I have watched a countless number of horror movies in my life, and I can confidently say that Insidious is up there as one of the most terrifying that I have seen. This movie isn't just good because of the horror and many jump scares that it brings to the viewer, but also because of the solid acting by everyone throughout.
In the film, parents Josh and Renai move into a new house with their children Dalton, Foster, and Cali. During one of the first days that they are in their new home, they notice some strange activity going on. One morning, Dalton wakes up in a coma that doctors can't explain. When they get paranormal investigators involved, they soon find out that Dalton isn't actually in a coma, his soul has traveled into another dimension, causing demons to come from that dimension into the real world to bring pain and terror upon Dalton's family. The movie ends with a huge cliffhanger, making the audience eager for the sequel.
Insidious demonstrates solid acting throughout, with exceptional jobs by Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne who play the roles of Josh and Renai Lambert. They bring out the true fear that is felt throughout the film. Patrick Wilson is known for the roles that he plays in horror films, such as The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, and Annabelle Comes Home. It is because of his strong acting in Insidious that he was able to play big roles in all of these other horror films.
Something that I took out of this movie that really spiked the level of terror was the soundtrack. Throughout the movie, eerie music and sounds would play whenever something bad was about to happen, or when there were big jump scares. Many people think it's cheesy to add loud, unnecessary sounds to a scene that is already terrifying, but I find that it really adds to the overall horror and suspense of the film. The song Tiptoe Through the Tulips still gives me flashbacks to nightmares that I have had about the demons that appear while the song is playing. Another quality that adds to the creepy music is the lighting throughout the film. The lighting appears darker than most other horror movies that I have seen, giving it a more sinister vibe. A scene that shows these particular strengths is when Josh enters the further dimension to bring Dalton back to the real world. The further dimension is always dark, and the only color that you can really see is the red door leading to wear Dalton is trapped. During this scene, that eerie music is playing, creating the creepy sinister feeling.
Insidious is a true horror movie that brings some of the strongest qualities that one would look for in something scary. If you're looking for a seriously terrifying movie with jump scares and great acting, look no further. Insidious will have you begging for the sequel.