"Insidious Chapter 2" is as good as the original.

Rating: 8/10 (17 August 2015)

It is said that the Plains Indians used every part of the buffalo that they hunted. In much the same way, "Insidious: Chapter 2" (PG-13, 1:45) uses everything at its disposal - and does so VERY effectively.
The follow-up to the equally good 2010 "Insidious" takes the Lambert family's story forward from about where the original left off. Unfortunately, there's very little I can tell you about the plot without spoiling the fun. Suffice it to say that it's not all that easy to enter the spirit world and return without being changed by the experience. I can't even tell you everyone who's in this movie without spoiling something. What I can tell you is that Patrick Wilson is back as the dad, Rose Byrne as his wife and Barbara Hershey as his mother. Oh, and James Wan is back as director and Leigh Whannell as writer.
As we watch the film unfold and start to worry more and more about the effect that dad's journey in the last movie had on him.... not much happens, but Wan keeps us engaged with low-tech, old-school scares designed to make you jump in your seat. When things do start happening, the plot seems to be heading in several different directions at the same time, but then something amazing happens. The film weaves together every character, every plot point and even the most minor details so tightly that it would put an Egyptian sheet manufacturer to shame... but would make the Native American buffalo hunters very proud. (Please excuse my mixed metaphors. I couldn't decide which one to use, so I used them both.) "Insidious: Chapter 2" does contain some shaky acting, but the film is one of the best constructed and most entertaining horror movies I've seen in a long time. "A-"