Decent Sequel

Rating: 7/10 (15 September 2013)

Insidious Chapter 2 is a frightening, fun, although flawed film. It picks up right after the death of Elise (Lin Shay), and about 20 years ago when Josh (Patrick Wilson) was a boy. Yes, Josh brought something back with him. It was the parasite that stalked him as a boy. It is moving on him. It is moving on Dalton (Ty Simpkin). It is moving on the whole family. In the meantime, Elise's friend, Carl (Steve Coulter) is working with Specks and Tucker to unravel what has happened. It leads them to a a very dark secret about the parasite - or the Black Widow. First, the movie provides good suspense, good scares, and surprises without the menacing music, buckets of blood and gore, and NO CGI effects. It's a good old-fashioned ghost story with mystery, intrigue, and fear. I do have a few gripes. The story's pace is slowed by uneven execution. Between stories of Reyne's suspicion, Carl's endeavor with Spec and Tucker, and Dalton's returning clairvoyance, the story loses cohesion. I was interested in Dalton's take on things (since he was mostly in a coma in the first one). However, his story line is relegated to the back seat to focus on Josh. While Josh's story is interesting, it also takes a back seat to the uncovering of the past secrets of the black bride parasite. Finally, many of the same elements are repeated - some of which defy logic and common sense. Still, it has a familiar family we love, and a great mystery. If you liked the first one, you should like this one - but probably not as much as the first one.