Paranormal Activity meets Poltergeist

Rating: 7/10 (8 April 2011)

INSIDIOUS (2011) **1/2 Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson. "Paranormal Activity" meets "Poltergeist" is the best way to describe this derivative (particularly of the latter flick) about a family plagued by ghostly beings despite the attempt to move only to find the specters following themand deign to possess their comatose young son. One genuine shock (spoiled by the trailer!! Thank you Trailer!!) in seeing the nasty black & red demon – a bastard of Darth Maul/Freddy Kruger and the Bogeyman – is the only thing keeping this underwhelming scare fest alive with its B-movie tropes (i.e. creaking doors; shock 'jumps', & the telegraphic score!). Director James (the original "Saw") teams up again with scripting bud Whannell (who has a small role as a comic relief ghostbuster) but there is little magic (or horror) in the making.