6-8 quality scares

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2011)

You want to know what's scary? Unexpectedly seeing a really scary face, and at the same time hearing a really loud musical cue. I'm being dead serious - it's jarring as heck. The makers of "Insidious" have taken this simple premise and crafted an entire film around it. Not only do they understand the formula (scary face + loud music cue = fright), they understand how to space these jolts out over a 90 minute film so that the effect doesn't diminish. They have done this, and only this.
It is enough for a 6 out of 10, because so few movies know how to actually scare you. But don't kid yourself into thinking it makes it a great, or even a good film. Without those jolts, what's left is a genuinely silly film, with an overwrought score, unlikeable leads, and some highly sad effects (ie smoke machines).