Insidious: Chapter 2 (Review)

"Insidious: Chapter 2" presents itself as a perplexing puzzle with an abundance of unnecessary pieces and a scarcity of essential ones. Nevertheless, it manages to surpass its predecessor in a few fundamental aspects. The second installment in James Wan's homage/ripoff to "Poltergeist" showcases a couple of meticulously crafted set pieces that effectively evoke fear. In a film where characters feel compelled to incessantly explain supernatural occurrences, these moments make a significant impact. Unlike its forerunner, this sequel demonstrates restraint by not excessively relying on jump scares and loud noises. Screenwriter Leigh Whannell, known for his involvement in the early "Saw" movies (although he did not script the fourth to seventh installments), infuses the "Insidious" films with his trademark audaciousness. While his ideas for "Insidious: Chapter 2" are remarkably misguided, they are also the primary reason the film manages to avoid mediocrity.

The story picks up right where the previous film left off, with the Lambert family still plagued by paranormal phenomena. The body of Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) becomes possessed by the spirit of a mysterious bride in black, unbeknownst to his wife Renai (Rose Byrne). Despite the revelation from Elise (Lin Shaye), a deceased medium, through a ghost-revealing photograph, Renai remains oblivious—perhaps understandably shaken by the image. Elise had previously cautioned Renai that moving homes would be futile since it was their son who was haunted, not the physical house. However, inexplicably, Renai and the now-possessed Josh relocate to Josh's childhood residence, despite being aware of his own haunted past. As supernatural occurrences resume, Renai seeks answers alongside ghost-hunters Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), eventually turning to retired psychic Carl (Steve Coulter) for guidance.

Unfortunately, seeking answers within a Whannell-scripted film proves to be a perplexing endeavor. It is easy to overlook the illogical elements within the plot: a group of adults searching an abandoned hospital at night, characters redundantly recapping past events, and the selective patchwork used by Whannell to facilitate Wan's desired effects. While this occasionally results in impactful scenes, such as the chilling discovery of a room filled with corpses, it becomes tiresome to endure characters exhaustively explaining their abilities and limitations. The fact that Josh is inexplicably lost in "The Further," an astral plane where his soul struggles to reunite with his body, is initially forgivable. However, Whannell's decision to emphasize this point and expect viewers to overlook the inconsistency feels like a loose thread begging to be tugged. (Wasn't it established in the first film that Josh possessed a gift for traversing the astral plane? Why is he now disoriented and unable to regain control of his body?)

Patrick Wilson deserves cautious praise for his occasionally compelling performance. When given the opportunity, he embraces the role with a theatricality reminiscent of Robert Englund's portrayal of Freddy Krueger combined with Jack Torrance's madness. Although the film's mythology needlessly convolutes matters, it does offer Wan and the talented cast a larger canvas to explore. The fact that the story takes place in multiple haunted houses grants Wan the freedom to experiment with new techniques while refining his existing repertoire.

In "Insidious: Chapter 2," the enigmatic puzzle continues to unfold, with a surplus of unnecessary elements and a deficiency of crucial ones. Despite this, the film manages to outshine its predecessor in several fundamental ways. As James Wan's tribute to "Poltergeist" progresses into its second installment, it delivers a few meticulously crafted and genuinely terrifying set pieces. In a narrative where characters frequently feel compelled to dissect the why and how of supernatural occurrences, these moments of genuine fear make a significant impact. Unlike its forerunner, this sequel exercises restraint by refraining from an overabundance of jump scares and jarring sound effects. Screenwriter Leigh Whannell, known for his involvement in the early "Saw" films (though not the later ones), infuses the "Insidious" series with his characteristic ambition. While his ideas for "Insidious: Chapter 2" are undeniably flawed, they paradoxically contribute to the film's overall appeal.

Picking up immediately after the previous film, the Lambert family remains haunted by their paranormal experiences. The spirit of a mysterious bride in black possesses the body of Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson), unbeknownst to his wife Renai (Rose Byrne). Despite a revealing photograph provided by the deceased medium Elise (Lin Shaye), Renai fails to grasp the truth. Understandably shaken by the spectral image, she is unable to fully comprehend its implications. Elise had previously warned Renai that moving houses would be futile, as their son was the one haunted, not their physical dwelling. However, against all logic, Renai and the now-possessed Josh return to Josh's childhood home, despite being fully aware of his own haunting in the past. As supernatural phenomena reignite, Renai seeks answers alongside ghost-hunters Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), ultimately seeking the guidance of retired psychic Carl (Steve Coulter).

Unfortunately, attempting to unravel the mysteries within a Whannell-scripted film proves to be a vexing task. Superficial inconsistencies can be overlooked, such as a group of adults exploring an abandoned hospital at night or characters redundantly recounting past events to one another. However, Whannell's selective patchwork to accommodate Wan's desired effects becomes wearisome. While it occasionally leads to impactful scenes, such as the bone-chilling discovery of a room filled with lifeless bodies, the extensive explanations offered by the characters regarding their abilities and limitations become tiresome. The fact that Josh inexplicably finds himself lost in "The Further," an astral plane where his soul struggles to reconnect with his body, may initially be forgiven. However, Whannell's insistence on emphasizing this point and expecting viewers to disregard the inconsistency feels like an unresolved plot thread begging for resolution. (Wasn't it established in the first film that Josh possessed the gift of astral-plane travel? Why is he now disoriented and unable to reclaim control of his own body?)

Patrick Wilson deserves cautious praise for his sporadically compelling performance. When given the opportunity, he fully immerses himself in the role, channeling the theatricality of Robert Englund's Freddy Krueger merged with the madness of Jack Torrance from "The Shining." While the film's mythology needlessly convolutes the narrative, it does provide James Wan and the talented cast with a broader scope for exploration. The inclusion of multiple haunted houses allows Wan to experiment with new techniques while refining his existing repertoire, creating a sense of anticipation for what unfolds next.