Good movie. DO NOT miss the end!

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2013)

*This review may contain SPOILERS*.
Personally, I find supernatural horror to be the creepiest of all the sub genres of horror, because it is something that we don't know how to handle (if at all it exists). In that sense, 'Insidious' is as scary as it can get without being too gory or visually unappealing.
Director James Wan proves that you don't need tons of scary makeup and mutilated or bloody or zombie-like people to give a fright. Sure, there is some makeup used for frightening effects, but the scary-looking people, in addition to the tight story, make for a good scare.
The haunted family with the apparitions and scary faces popping out from every corner of the house, the husband (Josh, played by Patrick Wilson) not believing the wife (Renai, played by Rose Byrnes)when she tells him about the apparitions, thinking she's imagining things, yet eventually being forced to move to another house because the wife can't seem to control herself, the son (Dalton, played by Ty Simpkins) unconscious and doctors unable to explain the 'coma' he is in, are all routine ingredients of a horror flick. That's as routine as it gets.
Enter Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) and her team of paranormal investigators, and the story becomes gripping. Initially dismissive of Elise's observations, Josh eventually relents when he tallies some of his son's drawings with Elise's findings. What follows is even more thrilling as Josh's past is revealed and he tries to save his son.
But like with every good narrative, the best part is at the end. DO NOT miss the end!
Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne do a good job as the parents, but I felt that Byrne needed a little polishing of her acting skills (not that it handicapped the movie in any way, though). (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne look good together.It would be interesting to watch them in a romcom.)
Lin Shaye gives a very strong and highly laudable performance. She clearly has the responsibility of the movie on her shoulders and does complete justice to her role. Ty Simpkins surprises you when he is not sleeping (which he does for half of his screen time) with his acting. There is also a touch of humour the director tries to provide with Elise's teammates as they try to get one up over the other.
The writing is tight and keeps you hanging for more. The cinematography is almost perfect, the sound effects and music add to the spooky aura of the film.
With the supernatural genre, the writing sometimes tends to go awry and writers end up with more twists than they had initially intended for. Writer Leigh Whannell sticks to one theory and pretty much keeps the story linear and free of messy twists and turns.
All in all, 'Insidious' is a good scare if you are a horror fan. It's definitely worth your money.