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Sunday Night at the Movies: Insidious Chapter 3

One failed attempt later and this pretentious non-film critic finally gets to see the latest instalment of one of his favourite modern horror franchises. Sure, the Insidious movies aren't for everyone, but enough people grooved on these flicks to produce a trilogy. Is the third time the charm or not? Stick with me!

I've never understood the hate some horror fans have toward James Wan and Leigh Whannell's horror series. I've likened the Insidious movies to the Poltergeist films of our modern age. Likeable family + spooky spirits = good time. Granted, shit is very different this time around. But, if you didn't dig the first two chapters in the Insidious series, than you probably won't like the third.

But . . . and this is a heavy but . . . Many of the elements that I know people didn't dig about Insidious chapters 1 and 2 aren't present in the third. The shenanigans of Specs and Tucker are kept to a dull roar as is the campy humour. This is probably the darkest, scariest and most personal of the Insidious movies, and I liked that a lot. The Further? It's prominent, but not a mainstay here. And Tonally? Things are pretty straight forward. Like I said, this is dark, scary and personal.

However, the third act does leave something to be desired, and the plot wraps up a little too neatly. Good thing Lin Shaye, Stefanie Scott and Dermot Mulroney deliver the goods. And first-time director Whannell does a fine job of ramping up the scares and staging the set pieces we all came to see.

Insidious Chapter 3 is more than more of the same, but does a fine job of connecting to the other entries in the series. If you are a fan, welcome back. If not, don't bother. This isn't your pint of ale of anyway.

I dug the flick, for the record. And I'll watch it again.

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