A Highly Predictable & Forgettable Sequel That's Severely Lacking In Plot & Character Development

Rating: Null/10 (10 September 2016)

At its time of release, Insidious was hailed by numerous critics & viewers alike as one of the finest works of contemporary horror, a consensus I didn't agree with at all. For me, it had the ingredients to finish as one of the most effective chillers, not to mention that its first half was a masterwork of tension building but, thanks to the utterly ridiculous & laughable set of events that unfolded in the next half, the entire experience was pretty much ruined.
Insidious: Chapter 2 suffers from the same issues that plagued its predecessor, in addition to a few more. James Wan once again succeeds in establishing an unnerving atmosphere and employs both camera & sound to good effect but it lacks the freshness of the original, its storyline is predictable, and the surprises are few & far in between, not to mention that its moments of tension don't linger for long unlike before, thus diminishing their impact by an extent.
Picking up right where the first film left off, the story of Insidious: Chapter 2 follows the Lambert family as they relocate to a different house while police investigates everything that transpired at their previous residency. Soon, the family comes to realise that whatever was haunting them back in their old house has followed them to the new place, and with Josh exhibiting strange behaviour, the ladies take it upon themselves to get to the truth of all this & end it for once n all.
Directed by James Wan (best known for Saw & The Conjuring), Insidious: Chapter 2 begins with a prologue that covers the part that was only hinted in the previous chapter while also playing a key role later in the story. Numerous moments tie up with events that were left unexplained in the first chapter but it still doesn't pack a strong punch this time. The tone is darker than the last time and suspense builds up quickly too but the story just isn't engaging enough on an emotional level.
The look n feel of the first film is skilfully duplicated but just like before, all the scenes taking place in purgatory realm are facepalm-inducing. The ghosts look funnier than frightening, and the scares work best only when the poltergeist activities are ongoing. Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Barbara Hershey & Ty Simpkins return to reprise their previous roles but their performances aren't any better than the last time plus the characters remain just as uninteresting as before.
On an overall scale, Insidious: Chapter 2 works in bits n pieces and is able to use its setting & eerie atmosphere to desired effect at times but it is so predictable & lacking in surprises that just sitting through this sequel is a tedious job in itself. The non-linear narrative structure fails to conceal the shortcomings in its plot & characters and the negatives outweighs the positives by a considerable extent this time. Fans of the original may find a few redeemable qualities about this second chapter but for me, Insidious: Chapter 2 is instantly forgettable.