Featured Audience Ratings

• vieras e

  
  I clearly must have missed something, because for the life of me I cannot understand why anybody would give this more than three stars.

• Dean M

  
  Aussie director Jamie Wen and actor-writer Leigh Whannell are back since Saw. Forsaking the blood, gore and splintered bones of their multi-million dollar series for a modern-day Poltergeist, the two-man horror film factory want to scare your socks off, not empty your stomachs.… More
  Aussie director Jamie Wen and actor-writer Leigh Whannell are back since Saw. Forsaking the blood, gore and splintered bones of their multi-million dollar series for a modern-day Poltergeist, the two-man horror film factory want to scare your socks off, not empty your stomachs. Beautifully created atmospherics set viewers on edge, but the subsequent storyline - a family spooked by moving furniture and a young child ghost-napped by a malevolent spirit - has been done to death. Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson are excellent as the distraught parents but, despite what is happening to their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins), there is a distance between us and the sinister shenanigans. If you are looking for more substance to go with your terror, look elsewhere, because Insidious is a shallow "boo!" creation.

• Sophie B

  
  A good film with some good scares but not something I'd suggest to hard core horror fans.

• Tyler R

  
  Watching this movie alone in your room while the lights are off and you're home alone...not my brightest moment. Insidious is about a couple who moves into a new house and when their son falls in a coma, weird stuff starts to happen. It turns out that the kid is being stalked by… More
  Watching this movie alone in your room while the lights are off and you're home alone...not my brightest moment. Insidious is about a couple who moves into a new house and when their son falls in a coma, weird stuff starts to happen. It turns out that the kid is being stalked by a demon, more or less. The trailer for the movie makes the movie look like any other generic horror movie in the past, but Insidious ends up being more than that. First off, there's something really creepy about the mood of the movie. The house the family moves in has a really weird feel to it, almost like you know it's not the place you want to live in. The movie has a really creepy atmosphere, but how does it do when it comes to scares? It does really well surprisingly. I think that the director did a great job of building suspense. Everything just builds up to something and whenever something happens it doesn't let down. I actually have a friend who said one of the dumbest things about I've ever heard about horror movies. His exact quote was "Suspense is stupid, jump scares are better because they get you to jump." I'm sorry, but whoever thinks that is an idiot. Suspense is the feeling of not knowing and being anxious to see that happens and this movie absolutely delivers on that. The soundtrack for the movie is also really creepy. It's mainly violins screeching their asses off, but it's not just in random spots. It plays when something genuinely scary happens and the parts where there's no violins, there are songs by Tiny Tim. I'm gonna be honest, If I ever hear Tiptoe Through the Tulips again, I will immediately think back to this movie. This may be a minor spoiler to those who haven't seen the movie yet, but it's minor, so it might not matter. The demon is actually shown in full form in the movie. At first he appears as a silhouette and stuff like that, but then he's shown and he looks a lot like Darth Maul from that crappy Star Wars prequel. The demon was creepy though. I was surprised at how much I was ok with the demon being shown because I usually don't like when scary movies show what's terrorizing people. That's part of what made Paranormal Activity so scary; the not showing of the demon helps because it's only as scary as your mind makes it up to be. The only thing the movie suffered from was the third act of the movie. The ending was kind of confusing to me and I think the suspense started to let down. I would've liked a better third act, but Insidious is a horror movie worth watching if you're sick of all the cliches. It's scary and it stuck with me after it was over. I was lying in bed and I tried my best not to look into dark corners, but the slightest sound got me paranoid and I can praise the movie for being a really well done psychological horror flick.

• Alexander D

  
  Though an original horror movie as its own work, INSIDIOUS is also undeniably a compilation of nods to previous horror films. The setting and plot is a sort of POLTERGEIST meets THE OMEN. There are also recent allusions to works the crew has been associated with. The entire film feels… More
  Though an original horror movie as its own work, INSIDIOUS is also undeniably a compilation of nods to previous horror films. The setting and plot is a sort of POLTERGEIST meets THE OMEN. There are also recent allusions to works the crew has been associated with. The entire film feels a lot like the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY series, which was created by producer Oren Peli. Contrarily, there are a few instances when you would expect something different from the makers. This was written by Leigh Whannell and directed by Oren Peli, who brought us SAW back in 2004. Iâ(TM)ve seen INSIDIOUS a few times now, and Iâ(TM)ve always thought it to be the most effective horror movie without using very much violence at all. Yet that other film from these filmmakers is utterly gory and brutal to the very core.<br/><br/>If thereâ(TM)s one recent film that proves what a small production budget can do, itâ(TM)s INSIDIOUS. Other than the lack of an A-list cast, itâ(TM)s quite hard to tell that the film yields a budget of $1.5 million and was distributed by an up-and-coming studio called FilmDistrict. I love horror movies, sometimes more than I should, but itâ(TM)s rare for me to come across one that seems so authentic. The plot may a bit implausible (but an implausible thrill ride), but weâ(TM)re brought to rethink that once weâ(TM)ve experienced the masterful camerawork, the startling musical score, and every other technical gem. You know itâ(TM)s something great when the placement of a song as harmless as âTiptoe through the Tulipsâ? can scare the living daylights out of you.<br/><br/>Read the whole thing at themoviefreakblog.com

• Nikhil N

  
  Frightening and interesting, holds your attention throughout but slowly loses its charm as the demons reveal themselves to look like knock-off masked characters with poor special effect editing making their movements seem like we were playing a video game. Still a solid film, I… More
  Frightening and interesting, holds your attention throughout but slowly loses its charm as the demons reveal themselves to look like knock-off masked characters with poor special effect editing making their movements seem like we were playing a video game. Still a solid film, I recommend it to anyone who loves a good scare once in a while, and much better than some of the other junk the industry is putting out.

• Jeff "

  
  James Wan is slowly becoming one of horrors finest young directors. With a string of solid horror films under his belt, James Wan is one of the most talented directors in the genre today. After such films as Saw and Dead Silence, Wan delivers Insidious, a truly terrifying horror film.… More
  James Wan is slowly becoming one of horrors finest young directors. With a string of solid horror films under his belt, James Wan is one of the most talented directors in the genre today. After such films as Saw and Dead Silence, Wan delivers Insidious, a truly terrifying horror film. While most films in the horror genre nowadays are remakes, Insidious is a refreshing take on the traditional formula. The story is nothing new, but it works so well due to a strong script, great acting and directing. Insidious is a treat for old school horror fans looking for genuine scares and jolts. This film is one of the most frightening films that I've seen in the past few years. Although not perfect, Insidious is a smartly crafted horror film that leaves you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. This film proves that clichés sometimes do work, and work well because of James Wan's effective directing and good storytelling. Most directors use overdone clichés to tell their story, and it fails miserably. This is not the case with Insidious; James Wan uses the traditional horror clichés to his own advantage. This film ends up being one of the most memorable and creepiest horror flicks in the last ten years. If you're a fan of traditional ghost stories, then pick this one up. Blending haunted house elements with other supernatural elements, Insidious is a terrifying thrill ride that is sure to scare the living hell out of you. A truly unique take on old school horror, and one that works brilliantly well.

• Jason O

  
  I'm not one to get scared or jumpy at a movie at all, and to me, &quot;The Exorcist&quot; was never scary at all and mega overrated. But...&quot;Insidious made me jump a few times and I found it to be gripping throughout, but especially the latter half. Scariest movie… More
  I'm not one to get scared or jumpy at a movie at all, and to me, &quot;The Exorcist&quot; was never scary at all and mega overrated. But...&quot;Insidious made me jump a few times and I found it to be gripping throughout, but especially the latter half. Scariest movie I've seen in several years, or maybe ever. Full of interesting twists too...everyone has their own opinion, but I can't see how any horror film fan can think of giving this &lt; 4 stars!

• Anthony L

  
  *Spoilers* Considering the Haunted House genres has been done to death, Insidious doesn't do a bad job and it was a brave move by it's makers that paid off. It's not brilliant though. The first half is a case of 'It's what you don't see' that scares… More
  *Spoilers* Considering the Haunted House genres has been done to death, Insidious doesn't do a bad job and it was a brave move by it's makers that paid off. It's not brilliant though. The first half is a case of 'It's what you don't see' that scares you and this works - better than Paranormal Activity in my opinion. It's the second half that really lets it down though, when you begin to see the Insidious ones the scares become sparse. It's a little cliched really, you wait an hour to see a Ghost and when you do it's just a bunch of pale looking people in Victorian clothing. Boo indeed. Actually, the 'Red face in Kitchen scene was good but it was the only 'Jump out of your seat' scene which there should have been more of. The fantasy end comes very close to cheesy 80's horror storyline-wise but without it being as fun as that was back then and by the end you're really not that bothered about how it ends because chances are you've already working it out (Not that it makes much sense). Nice to see Lin Shaye in a good role though, she's earned it after all the crap she's been given all these years. I've seen better but I've seen a hell of a lot worse.

• Carlos M

  
  Possibly one of the scariest movies I have seen in the past few years. It is very well directed, avoiding the easy clichés and maintaining a constant tension instead of going for the cheap scares. It is always great to see a smart horror movie that really knows how to scare the hell… More
  Possibly one of the scariest movies I have seen in the past few years. It is very well directed, avoiding the easy clichés and maintaining a constant tension instead of going for the cheap scares. It is always great to see a smart horror movie that really knows how to scare the hell out of the viewers.

• Tired of P

  
  Directed by James Wan, Film District, 2011. Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye and Barbara Hershey. Genre: Horror, Thriller. Question: How many times do you watch a movie, expect it to be scary and then it does not live up to it's expectations?… More
  Directed by James Wan, Film District, 2011. Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Lin Shaye and Barbara Hershey. Genre: Horror, Thriller. Question: How many times do you watch a movie, expect it to be scary and then it does not live up to it's expectations? Well, for me - not that often because horror movies really scare me without really having to try all that hard. But I watched Insidious tonight and it started out good (scary) and then sort of waded into the ridiculous. My son decided one day he wanted to watch a scary movie and being the fantastic mother I am, I at first freaked out, because I am a big wimp when it comes to the horror genre, I complied. Then I asked him which movie he would like to see (secretly hoping it wasn't too scary). "Insidious. My friends keep talking about it and how much they liked it." My thoughts were not good ones only because my son's friends are 12 years-old who appear to handle the scare factor okay, unlike moi. Insidious started out really well, as scary movies go. There was little dialogue and not a ton of overly scary music playing which made the story more plausible. The family, who had just moved into their new home, portrayed a "real" family. A mother of three, who stays home and works on her music when she can, and a husband who at first appears caring and kind. The mother, played by Rose Byrne, did a good job showing what it is really like to be a mom - hair up, no make-up, kids needs come first and when any time is left over - time for herself. And more importantly, she is home all day long and multitasking: cooking, cleaning, unpacking, organizing, taking care of the children, etc...and then soon witness to odd happenings. The house starts to show signs of a haunting, simply and subtly at first. This is where 'this' mother started to get pretty scared (and pathetic). By this point my son is also scared but we struggled on-wards with the story. Noises in the house increase, items move on their own and a glimpse or two of a ghost pops up just to make my heart beat faster. Then one of the children in the house slips into a coma, and I am intrigued with where the film-makers are taking the story. Although soon after there is more dialogue and something shifts. I found the cadence or the rhythm of the acting falter, and even thought it was bad at a point or two. But I brushed that aside because what worked in the beginning came back: lack of talking, more bumps in the night and an increase of sudden glimpses of more ghosts. Then there is another shift as the story unfolds more. Slowly I started to recall a film that scared the bejesus out of me when I was 12 years-old: Poltergeist. By the middle of the story it was very hard to NOT compare this movie to the haunted house classic. There weren't any clowns, or fuzzy TV screens or scary looking children-eating trees, but when a woman and her crew show up at the house to discover and document the activity and why the son was in a coma, it was virtually impossible not to see a connection. This is where the movie lost me and I found the rest of the story insincere. I was no longer terrified but bored. It did have a twist at the end but even that didn't scare me. So, what did I learn here today? Well, it's hard to create a horror story that is really scary, and that perhaps I am not a big chicken after all. Go ahead and rent Insidious because I do think the first half was good just don't expect greatness in the second half. Although one scene actually made me scream out loud suddenly. The editor of this film was brilliant in their way of increasing the scare factor in this film. My favorite part: That's hard to say since this was a horror - but the editing was really well done. My least favorite part: That I was almost forced to make a comparison to another movie. Rating: PG-13 Length: 103 minutes Review: 4 out of 10 P.S. Alright I have to confess one thing. I said Insidious was not all that scary while watching. However, when I went to bed, after writing the majority of this review, I had a sudden memory of one of the scary elements.Then I realized I AM a chicken as I remembered the light switch was 12 feet away and I was too scared to get out of bed to turn it on.

• Dean !

  
  A decent paranoid, creepy, old school haunted house film....that then becomes an old school possession film. It starts well and is genuinely creepy and jumpy. The second half of the film changes direction somewhat and has an almost fairy tale feel to it. Not bad for a 12a rated horror… More
  A decent paranoid, creepy, old school haunted house film....that then becomes an old school possession film. It starts well and is genuinely creepy and jumpy. The second half of the film changes direction somewhat and has an almost fairy tale feel to it. Not bad for a 12a rated horror film.

• Unknown H

  
  The way this film had been publicised and talked about I was expecting to have many a sleepless night ahead of me, but unfortunatley I think I will sleep as sound as ever. A real old school horror movie, about not only possession but hauntings as well, it wasn't as predictable as… More
  The way this film had been publicised and talked about I was expecting to have many a sleepless night ahead of me, but unfortunatley I think I will sleep as sound as ever. A real old school horror movie, about not only possession but hauntings as well, it wasn't as predictable as I thought it would be and did have an original take on an old story, with a very interesting end. However the demon and ghosts were comical, almost theatrical, and the pacing of the film seemed off. Not a terrible movie, but definitely not one that you'll need the lights on to watch.

• Randy T

  
  Director James Wan takes a stab at old school, edge-of-your-seat horror with mixed results. His approach is sound but lapses in scripting and a few unintentionally funny moments detract from the otherwise eerie atmosphere and keep <i>Insidious</i> from living up to its… More
  Director James Wan takes a stab at old school, edge-of-your-seat horror with mixed results. His approach is sound but lapses in scripting and a few unintentionally funny moments detract from the otherwise eerie atmosphere and keep <i>Insidious</i> from living up to its potential.

• J P

  
  I'm not really sure if I like this film or not. The beginning parts with the scary visuals and such in the first haunted house was amazing. It was really scary and awesome. Then the visuals in the second house were great as well. There was a lot of suspense there. However once… More
  I'm not really sure if I like this film or not. The beginning parts with the scary visuals and such in the first haunted house was amazing. It was really scary and awesome. Then the visuals in the second house were great as well. There was a lot of suspense there. However once the psychic came in with her crew the movie kind of went downhill for me. It was so scary up until the point where the psychic had the man go into the "further". It was really, really funny...not like ha ha funny more like silly/stupid funny. It seemed like a joke. It was a great movie until they went into the other world. Then it stopped being scary and I started writing this movie off. I give it props for having an original story line, but come on. By the end it was just too ridiculous to be scary. The twist was nice though, even if the mother and grandmother are fucking deaf. Like seriously how could you NOT hear that?

• Emil K

  
  James Wan's Insidious comes so very close of being a very good horror-film. It could even be something great if it would not fall for it's own ambition. Two of it's third it is truly chilling and scary film to watch. Especially the stylish and elegant first 45-minutes… More
  James Wan's Insidious comes so very close of being a very good horror-film. It could even be something great if it would not fall for it's own ambition. Two of it's third it is truly chilling and scary film to watch. Especially the stylish and elegant first 45-minutes are some of the best work in horror-genre in a long time. There are cliches along the way but they are made with such an great eye for detail and style that you are willing to forgive them. Director Wan avoids easy solutions or cheap scares and succeeds in creating a uneasy and creepy atmosphere that builds nearly unbearable heights. Joseph Bishara's fantastic score must be also mentioned. Bishara borrows just right amounts from avant-garde composer Krzysztof Penderecki creating a soundtrack equally effective that we heard in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. But the troubles begin with the final act. There is nothing wrong with idea of turning this into a journey to another reality, but that is when the cliches start dropping in and also the unintenionally bad effects also. If Wan would understand to keep his film such an stylish and nuanced as it is for the most of it's running time, then this could have been something great, but now it fails to hold it's candle all the way till the end. Still with all the flaws it has, it is surprisingly well made horror-film that succeeds in being a truly scary experience to sit through.

• Nate Z

  
  It's like a fresh coat of paint on the old haunted house movie. Director James Wan and writer Leigh Wannell, the team that birthed the grisly Saw franchise, are working in a completely different realm of horror, tying together familiar genre elements (creaky doors, séances,… More
  It's like a fresh coat of paint on the old haunted house movie. Director James Wan and writer Leigh Wannell, the team that birthed the grisly Saw franchise, are working in a completely different realm of horror, tying together familiar genre elements (creaky doors, séances, possession, demons with a lipstick fetish?) into one seriously effective spine-tingler. This PG-13 frightfest is well paced and methodically constructed, giving you pause whenever a character ventures offscreen. It finds a way to make old fears scary again. Wan and Wannell find ways to get under your skin. The final act lacks the precision of the rest of the movie, settling on too many explanations and a jumble of action, but the movie works. There are plenty of memorable, deeply creepy images afoot, the score of shrieking violins is a great addition to the ambiance, and the characters seem, given the outlandish scenario, fairly realistic and relatable. Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson make a rather sweet married couple. Insidious is something of an old school horror film, using clever tricks and avoiding obvious clichés while building a genuine atmosphere of trepidation. The movie got me to yell at my TV, which is an achievement in itself for a horror flick. I lost my sense of place and reverted back to a participant, spooked at what may be lurking in the dark. Not too bad for PG-13. Nate's Grade: B+

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Barbara Hershey, Heather Tocquigny Director: James Wan Summary: Josh and Renai confront terrifying tribulations when their son falls into a coma and his body starts to… More
  Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor, Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Barbara Hershey, Heather Tocquigny Director: James Wan Summary: Josh and Renai confront terrifying tribulations when their son falls into a coma and his body starts to attract malevolent forces. But when the family moves, hoping to leave the evil spirits behind, they realize their problems are only beginning. My Thoughts: "A creepy, scary, skin crawling good time. The movie really creeped me out and made me jump numerous times. The acting is pretty great by all. Some of the creepers were more scarier than other's, but they did the job. The director did a great job at building up the scares instead of zooming them into your face with some fast unnecessary camera work. The film had great suspense. No blood or guts needed in this film, just a good old fashion scare with the unknown. Great job by all in the movie. Definitely worth putting on you list of films to see." Elise Rainier: It's not the house that's haunted, it's your son.

• Bentley L

  
  Insidious was mentioned at The Scream Awards last night and since Halloween is just around the corner, I decided to review it. Insidious is about a family who moves into a new house. The parents happen to be Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson, who both starred in the superhero movies,… More
  Insidious was mentioned at The Scream Awards last night and since Halloween is just around the corner, I decided to review it. Insidious is about a family who moves into a new house. The parents happen to be Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson, who both starred in the superhero movies, Watchmen and X-Men: First Class. Everything is going nicely in their new abode until the baby starts crying too much, and their son, Dalton, suddenly dosen't wake up. After discovering that Dalton is in a coma, his parents soon hire some paranormal experts. That is when all the weird stuff begin happening. I actually reccomend Insidious if you haven't seen it yet. If I made my synopsis longer, I would be spoiling the fun for you. Haunted house movies aren't my thing let alone horror movies. Haunted house films kind of annoy me because the characters aren't the wisest. The ending of Poltergeist still stresses me! Insidious is a pretty smart horror film. The way they explain why the house is haunted is pretty original. I got a little stressed in the beginning, mainly because of the decisions the characters were making, but the rest of the film was fine. The performances were decent. Rose Byrne definetly looked terrified throughout the film. I may say that she is cut out for these type of horror films. However, I would not like to see her in some slasher or torture film. Patrick Wilson, who portrays Nite Owl II in Watchmen, is good as the father. The rest of the performances are good but nothing here is Oscar Worthy, folks! Are there any visuals? Yes. Insidious isn't a low budget film and neither is it big budget film. The visual style is pretty cool. It feels very surreal and there is one special effect that is very original. I can't give it away. Plus, the music is great and very scary. IT was overdone in some scenes. Lastly, is the movie scary? The first two minutes of the film and the last fifteen to twenty are the scariest. The rest is just very spooky. Insidious is an entertaining and frightning film. A good film for the Halloween season. Good performances and clever scares make Insidous worth watching. "Just because you're a superhero doesen't make you invincible."

• Lee ?

  
  Supernatural haunting/possession movie where a Demon attempts to possess the body of a young boy who has fallen into a coma after his soul took an outer-body stroll and got lost in the realm of the dead! Occassionally chilling but doesn't quite manage to be as scary as it tries… More
  Supernatural haunting/possession movie where a Demon attempts to possess the body of a young boy who has fallen into a coma after his soul took an outer-body stroll and got lost in the realm of the dead! Occassionally chilling but doesn't quite manage to be as scary as it tries to be. The film mostly relies on cheap scares with the aid of a loud noise or the use of loud music. Sure I jumped a few times but had I been deaf I wouldn't have been affected. Visually the scariest thing in the film was the red-faced Demon itself which really was a horrible looking being, but it wasn't used effectively enough to get more scares out of it. I thought it was a pretty good creepy attempt overall, but it doesn't quite stamp its mark on the genre, thought Paranormal Activity was better.

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