Insidious [3]: Chapter 3 (2015) [Blu-ray]
Horror | Thriller

A prequel set before the haunting of the Lambert family that reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity.

Storyline: After trying to connect with her dead mother, teenager Quinn Brenner, ask physic Elise Rainier to help her, she refuses due to negotiate events in her childhood. Quinn starts noticing paranormal events happen in her house. After a vicious attack from a demon her father goes back and begs Elise Rainier to use her abilities to contact the other side in hope to stop these attacks by this furious demon content for a body.

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, September 28, 2015 -- Horror is one of the most varied genres out there in terms of quality but also in style, but there are obvious stylistic trends that have followed it through the years. The 1980s positively exploded with movie after movie in series after series featuring unstoppable killing machines methodically hunting prey (Friday the 13th, Halloween). The 1990s saw a steady stream of slicker, teen-focused films (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer). The 2000s were dominated by grossly gory movies made with little purpose beyond churning stomachs (Saw, Hostel). Recently, however, that trend has shifted to the world of the unseen, of paranormal happenings and frightening hauntings ("retro" Horror movies seem poised to be the next big trend). The Paranormal Activity franchise -- made on the cheap and gleefully repeating formula time and again -- has dominated the box office and seems on an unstoppable roll of releases that promise more and more every year. Not quite so large or financially successful, but far and away the superior franchise in terms of overall quality and depth, is the Insidious franchise that itself sticks to a tried-and-true formula of its own making but enjoys a fair bit more leeway thanks to higher production values, a strong central cast, an interesting core story, and less a sense of marketplace overload and more a sense of steady story building. Insidious: Chapter 3 journeys backwards in time prior to the first two films to explore a particularly disturbing haunting but also further establish character bonds and universe lore in a film that's lean, straightforward, entertaining, and a quality entry into what is arguably Horror's current franchise king.

Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) has recently lost her mother. She's doing her best to move on in life with her younger brother Alex (Tate Berney) and father Sean (Dermot Mulroney) at her side. Various clues -- physical and emotional -- lead her to believe that her mother's presence remains with her. She contacts a medium named Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) in hopes of getting some answers. Elise is reluctant to take the case, but she gives in and realizes that there is indeed something to Quinn's supernatural contacts. But when Quinn is struck by a car and left bedridden with two broken legs, she becomes haunted by a frightening entity from the other side. By the time her father begins to believe that what's happening to his daughter is real, it may be too late. Elise returns to the scene and joins forces with a couple of Internet ghost hunters named Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) whom Sean has hired on his son's recommendation. What they discover will change their realities forever.

Insidious: Chapter 3 doesn't bring much to the table that fans haven't seen before. But the allure here isn't so much the core story -- which isn't half bad, if not a bit generic -- but rather some insight into the backstories of several key franchise players, namely Elise, Specs, and Tucker. And even then, it's only in the final act that fans get to see them in deep, detailed action. Fans will enjoy some good moments with them that will better define where the franchise has been (for the audience) and where it's headed (for the characters). Prior to that, this is completely Quinn's story, which doesn't amount to much of anything beyond "girl who misses her recently deceased mother is haunted by a frightening aberration." The film manages to tell that story without it ever feeling as if it's dragging, even as it's largely predictable and strictly adherent to franchise formula in terms of mood, sights, and sounds all. The cast plays it well, with lead Stefanie Scott doing her best to define a character who falls somewhere in the middle of "interesting" and "cookie cutter." her ability to sell her plights -- mental, emotional, and physical all -- elevate the film considerably. She's worth the audience's emotional investment, which helps to heighten the film's central drama, even if it's lacking in deep imagination.

Regardless of what characters appear, what they do, or where the movie takes them, Insidious: Chapter 3 is at least a bastion of consistency when held up alongside its predecessors. The film's moody, chilly blue-and-black tinted otherworldly ambience dominates the third act and remains the visual star of the show. The series is nothing if not visually resplendent in its own unique way, bathed in that contrast of shadowy backgrounds meets blue lighting. The story melts into the atmosphere, which hangs over the movie even in its earlier stages. There's still a reliance on classic jump scares that take a relatively still and quiet moment and suddenly offer a big movement accompanied by a shrilly, screeching sound effect and musical cue. But the jump scares aren't overdone but prove rather nicely integrated into the movie, feeling like a necessary part of the experience rather than a filmmakers' desperate attempt to keep a bored audience on its toes.

Insidious: Chapter 3 is more about the experience and less about the nitty-gritty details. The franchise has become popular for several reasons, including its characters, but its atmosphere, unique styling, and approachable scares have made it into the current king of the Horror franchise landscape, Paranormal Activity's bigger numbers be damned. This third entry follows suit and further establishes central character lore. The core story isn't overwhelmingly interesting but it holds its own well enough, thanks in large part to a few rock-solid performances from series newcomers Stefanie Scott and Dermot Mulroney. It doesn't quite top the first, but it's a fair bit better than the somewhat dreary middle film. If the franchise can maintain at least this level of quality, there's no reason for it slow down. Sony's Blu-ray release of Insidious: Chapter 3 delivers reference quality technical attributes as well as a few decent supplements. Recommended, and this isn't a terrible place for series newcomers to start.

[CSW] -2.5- It was pretty good but would have been even better (and I would have given it a higher rating) without so many unnecessary loud noise "Startle Reflex" jump scares.

This movie is a truly chilling horror movie, going more for the hair-raising creepiness of demons caught between the living and the after life rather than relying on cheap startling pops to make it scary (although there were still too many of jump scares). Quinn begins to witness strange happenings in her room at night, and she seeks out the help of Elise. Quinn tells Elise that she believe her mother is trying to communicate with her, and therefore she has tried to contact her mother. Elise explains that when trying to contact an individual, all can hear; and that Quinn has opened the gates to some not-so-friendly, or shall I say insidious, demons. Reluctant at first, Elise agrees to help Quinn, but not before the Brenners seek the help of paranormal bloggers Specs and Tucker. The film is suspenseful throughout.
[V5.0-A5.0] MPEG-4 AVC - No D-Box.


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