Review of "Insidious Chapter 3" by The Headless Critic

Insidious Chapter 3 - 2015

Production by: Blumhouse Productions, Entertainment One, Gramercy Pictures, Stage 6 Films
Distribution by: Focus Features, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Gramercy Pictures



“The darkest chapter goes back to the beginning.” in this prequel set before the haunting of the Lambert family. Teenage Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) visits familiar psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), in a desperate attempt to contact her recently deceased mother. As Rainier warns, “If you call out to one of the dead, all of them can hear you.” Soon after her psychic visit, Quinn is in an odd accident that leaves her with both legs in a cast. Laid up in bed at home, Quinn begins experiencing paranormal events. These events grow into a violent haunting. Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to help the poor girl and try to rid her of the demonic forces that have taken up in their house.

Insidious creator Leigh Whannell makes his directorial debut in the third installment of the series, which proves to be just as horrific but forgettable as the first two films. Whannel also created the Saw series. For me Saw was also a fine movie but I had generally forgotten the last sequel by the time the newest edition came to theaters. I know Saw and Insidious both have their loyal followers and are box office successes but I had given up on following either, until finally watching the latest Insidious installment for this review.

Like the previous two ventures, Insidious bridges the gap between the horror movie community and casual fans, with an eerie, dark film that falls in line with the rest of the saga. Definitely Hollywood horror, Insidious always covers the basics. Part 3 has some genuinely creepy things like the Man Who Can’t Breath (Michael Reid MacKay), some jump scares and a general ominous tone. It's also laughably simplistic in Rainier’s know it all without an explanation character, and a simple ending of the easily defeated. There’s also no real progress of the series in this standalone film but it does fill in some of the background story of Rainier and is a nice way to do an offset film. Shaye gets to take her well-deserved spotlight in the insidious dark.

I may not be a member of the loyal faithful, but I have liked every Insidious film so far. I imagine the loyal fans will find this a worthy addition. If for nothing else, then for Shaye getting the spotlight. For those forgotten fans like myself, Chapter 3 is just as entertaining if not memorable as the previous incarnations. Any potential fans who haven’t seen the series, maybe watching them all at once will leave a more lasting impression.

3 out of 5 Headless Critics




WYH Interview with Michael Reid MacKay of Insidious Chapter 3