Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Insidious’

Written by Scott Edwards 

Having an out of body experience is something that many people say they have gone through when facing their own mortality. Being able to see themselves from above when their body lays motionless on the table and seeing everyone that is trying to help them. This may be something that their minds catch while being unconscious or it could be something that really happens as when these people wake up, they are able to recall all of the events that took place.

The Lambert family has moved into their new home as Josh and Renai Lambert are trying to reconcile their marriage. With three kids in their lives, they are trying their hardest to make things work. Sons Dalton and Foster along with their little sister Cali are not happy with the move but don’t really understand what their parents are going through. Dalton is afraid of the house and asks his parents if they can go back home, but his parents do not understand what is scaring the boy.

One day Dalton does not wake up in the morning and his parents fear for the worst. Taking the boy to the Emergency Room, they find out that their son is fine medically speaking and there is no reason for his comatose state. Being a stay at home mother, Renai keeps track of all of her children when a strange sound comes across the baby monitor in Cali’s room. Thinking she is hearing a voice, Renai runs to check on her daughter as a scream comes out of the baby’s room. 

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​Not fully understanding what is happing in the house, Renai tells her husband what she has seen and heard, but Josh is not willing to accept that she is being plagued by ghosts. As the visions get closer to her, Renai turns to a priest to try and find guidance on the situation, but he is unable to provide comfort and turns the young mother to a group of ghost hunters that may be able to help solve the issue. Tucker and Specs investigate the house and come to a quick conclusion that there is something paranormal happening and turn to their leader Elise Rainier. Elise is a powerful psychic and discovers that all of the ghosts around the house are focused on their son Dalton and are trying to infest his lifeless body in order to re-inhabit the world of the living. 

Insidious follows the Lambert family as they have moved their lives to get away from their past. When their son Dalton does not wake up one morning and his mother Renai starts seeing and hearing strange things around the house, she fears that they are being plagued by ghosts. Calling in help from a ghost hunting team, the Lambert’s find out that Dalton is able to travel outside of his body while asleep and has been lost in the Further, the world of the dead. Josh is his son's only hope as he possesses the same power but needs to remember his past with the help of Elise. In a race against time and facing the dead on their own turf, Josh has to battle his own demons along with the ones that are plaguing his son.

If you're looking for a good scare, Insidious does deliver. Having one of the more disturbing soundtracks of recent horror movies, this film focuses more on the plot line than trying the classic camera turns to scare the crowd. With strong performances from the cast members, along with a strong story line being based around young Dalton and his father Josh, this movie shows how the father/son bond develops over the years. I will admit that I was a little hesitant in viewing Insidious, but after getting past that block I was pleasantly impressed with what it brought to the screen. A haunting, possessions, attacks along with the dead all wanting to live again make this a good movie to sit back and get your scare on. Stay Scared.

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