I decided to watch the “Insidious” franchise in chronological, not theatrical release order starting with “Insidious: Chapter 3” (2015), “Insidious: The Last Key” (2018) and “Insidious” (2010) to prepare for “Insidious: Out of the Further” (2026), so “Insidious: Chapter 2” (2013) is fourth on the list. Is it a requirement that every other installment of “Insidious” must suck? The Lambert family heads to grandma’s house to recover after the events of the 2010 movie. Is their nightmare over or not? More a clip show than an actual movie, it answers questions that no one asked, and if you enjoyed one scene, prepare to see it at least one more time from a different character’s point of view. It is more of a naked cash grab than a movie. With a plethora of reheated the ingredients from the first movie, but without a real story, it does not work.
Honestly, it could have worked. If you did not see “Insidious,” there will be spoilers so consider yourself warned. The Bride in Black (Tom Fitzpatrick), a ghost, possessed Josh (Patrick Wilson) to escape the Further then killed paranormal investigator Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) for recognizing the ruse, but Dalton (Ty Simpkins) was awake and physically functional. So the suspense of “Insidious: Chapter 2” rests on how long it will take for the family to recognize that Josh is not Josh. Instead of pursuing that thread, writer Leigh Whannell and director James Wan (the 2Ws) decide to follow the same beats as the first movie except everyone knows that there is no haunted house, and Dalton is fine. Instead, everyone goes off on their separate missions to figure out what spirit is haunting them. What!?!
It is the least instinctual next step in the story and the least interesting path to uncover: the history of The Bride in Black. How did The Bride in Black become that way? What did The Bride in Black do when they were alive? What is The Bride in Black’s agenda? It feels as if the 2Ws decided to borrow from “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991), “Psycho” (1960) and a handful of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” episodes with a splash of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) and “Mommie Dearest” (1981) to craft this humdrum backstory featuring a trans panic character with an evil Mother (Danielle Bisutti) ghost responsible for his demented behavior. Why did Mother encourage her son to become a serial killer? Dunno. The logistics of this mythology are still uneven, but now it is obvious where the prequels got their idea of a ghost or entity influencing people in the present to live their worst lives while the ghostbusters use their gifts to bring peace to the victims.
“Insidious” was so good because of the family dynamics and how they came together. It feels too contrived how they got so dumb overnight. Mom Renai (Rose Byrne) is falling apart because Mother keeps messing with baby Kali (Brynn and Madison Bowie). That storyline bears no fruit. Meanwhile Dalton needs a child therapist stat and unenthusiastically plays with his brother, Foster (Andrew Astor), because he knows weird crap is still happening. Grandma (Barbara Hershey) teams up with Specs (Whannell), Tucker (Angus Sampson) and Carl (Steve Coulter), Elise’s friend and former colleague, to reach Elise and find out what is going on. Meanwhile possessed Josh is arguing with the voices in his head because he would like to have a normal life this time around. In the first film, the family’s separation served a purpose and was a metaphor for what ailed the family. Here it is just a way to pass time before all hell breaks loose.
The most annoying aspect of “Insidious: Chapter 2” is its repetitiveness or showing more detail from scenes that appeared in the first movie but were never explained and never needed to be. Did you want to see Josh (Garrett Ryan) in the Eighties and experience how Elise (Lindsay Seim) dealt with his problem the first time around? Well, you are going to at least two times. Look at those childhood photos again. It is my third go around. Who was knocking at the door and set off the alarm in the first movie? What happened to the ghost in leather (J. LaRose) who was standing over the baby? Honestly did you care that much the first time around? It actually feels as if the 2Ws put in a ton of effort to make the movie inane because who would not prefer or expect to see the family together with The Bride in Black trying to do a convincing impression of Josh then the family trying to figure out how to call for help without tipping him off. Or have possessed Josh trying to teach his students. Why sideline and separate your best actors with chemistry?!? It is a complete waste of the acting talent to replay the old schtick and remix well-worn tropes instead of just a whole movie of possessed Josh trying to be a functioning member of society. Oh, the potential for satire.
The former sidekicks are more comedic relief than effective. The hair is wearing poor Hank Harris who plays Young Carl, not the other way around. Real Josh in the Further is more of what you have seen before, but this time, with a side of parentification. The pace of “Insidious: Chapter 2” picks up when Wilson gets to perform his homage to Jack Nicholson in “The Shining” (1980) but is at his best when he is making small talk with present day Carl (Steve Coulter) and starts acting like a Deadite taking out reams of people easily. Is the power of a spirit more powerful in a living body or was Josh just jacked like that? These are the questions that need answers because possessed Josh was about that life.
Shout out to Foster who was in two horror movies and is totally fine. Everyone needs to figure out how Foster is living his best life especially because even the baby is getting all the smoke. He is just stringing together tin cans, hiding and being smart. He is like, “I’m a child. It is not my job to get involved. I’m just going to stay off to the side and wait for everything to settle down.” In a world full of ghost busters and the living checking out the Further, be Foster! Also is Warren (Owen the Golden Retriever) ok?
“Insidious: Chapter 2” is not a good movie, but if you are a completist and plan to watch “Insidious: The Red Door” (2023), you at least must watch the final act to understand what is going on, so suck it up, buttercup. It is going to be a boring ride.
