Insidious: Chapter 3 is a competently well made flick with some good scares and decent performances from the main cast with Lin Shaye being a welcome member getting more back story for her character. The Blu-ray released by Sony is rather basic with good video/audio transfers and a forgettable selection of bonus material.
Insidious: Chapter 3
(2015)
REVIEW NAVIGATION
The Movie | Special Features | Video Quality | Audio Quality | Overall
Genre(s): Horror, Suspense, Supernatural
Sony | PG13 – 97 min. – $34.99 | October 6, 2015
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MOVIE INFO: Directed by: Leigh Whannell Writer(s): Leigh Whannell (written by) Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Lin Shaye DISC INFO: Audio: English (DTS-HD MA 5.1) |
** Click Here to Purchase Insidious: Chapter 3 on Blu-ray from Amazon.com **
THE MOVIE – 3.5/5
Insidious: Chapter 3 is actually a prequel to the events that occurred in the first film and based on some of what we learn, any future movies could also be prequels. As supernatural horror movies go, a subgenre I’m not the biggest fan of outside of The Exorcist and Nightmare on Elm Street, this entry wasn’t half bad and is a fine companion to the first film (which, warts and all, I also enjoyed). I should note I have not seen Chapter 2 and for those out of the loop for either or both, save for Easter egg scenes, you can actually jump right into this one without missing a beat.
Our story opens with teenager Quinn Brenner (STEFANIE SCOTT) going to the home of retired psychic Elise Rainier (LIN SHAYE), referred to by a friend, in the hopes she may make contact with her recently deceased mother whom she deeply misses. After some initial hesitation, Elise agrees to help but despite trying fails. However, something from the dark side (The Further) has found Quinn in her pursuits of finding her mother because, as Elise describes it, “If you call out to the dead, all of them can hear you.”
Well, that’s just what happens to Quinn as she returns home where she lives with her emotionally distant father, Sean (DERMOT MULRONEY), and younger brother Alex (TATE BERNEY). Quinn begins experiencing strange happenings including scary noises from the above vacant apartment and shadows appearing just right to be seen by windows. She also experiences some sort of night terrors and sleepwalking episodes and it becomes apparent something wants to take her soul.
Desperate to figure out what’s going on, Sean makes his own visit to Elise and after much hesitation, she agrees to get back into the spiritual medium game despite her own haunting and a creepy woman wanting to kill her. She goes to the Brenner apartment where she makes entrance into The Further seeing many lost souls collected by a demon aptly credited as “The Man Who Can’t Breathe” (MICHAEL REID MACKAY). It’s now a battle to save Quinn before it’s too late.
I was a moderate fan of the first movie, didn’t care much for the sequel but Insidious Chapter 3 actually wasn’t a half bad horror-thriller with more of an emphasis on thriller (of the supernatural kind) than horror. It’s a nice prequel providing more background for Elise who is by far the most interesting character of the three.
The film was written and directed Leigh Whannell marking his directorial debut after primarily being a writer and producer on a few of the Saw movies and acting appearing reprising his role from the original/sequel as well as one of the main characters of the first Saw. For his first time, it’s competently made with good thrills with few jump scares and at least an adequate and compelling enough story.
SPECIAL FEATURES – 2.75/5
This release comes with a glossy slip cover. Inside is a redemption code for the Digital HD copy.
Origin Story: Making Chapter 3 (19:04; HD) is a behind-the-scenes featurette that includes interviews with members of the cast (Dermot Mulroney, Lin Shaye) and crew (Jason Blum, Leigh Whanell, James Wan) as they talk about the script, story and characters.
Stunts: The Car Crash (9:35; HD) breaks, in good detail, down the crash scene in the movie.
Macabre Creations (8:58; HD) looks at the different hellish creatures in the film.
Cherry Glazerr: Tiptoe Through the Tuplips (5:16; HD) is an interview with the band covering the iconic song from the original film.
Being Haunted: A Psychic Medium Speaks (11:34) is a feature on a psychic medium named Michael J. Kouri who talks about his gift.
Deleted Scenes (5:16; HD) – We get three scenes that for some reason were cut; nothing amazing, just some character moments.
Previews – The Final Girls, Air, Risen, Extinction, Lake Placid vs. Anaconda, Broken Horses
VIDEO – 4.5/5
Insidious: Chapter 3 crosses over onto Blu-ray shown in its original theatrical 2.39 widescreen aspect ratio and given a 1080p high-definition transfer. For the most part, it’s a great looking picture. Detail is sharp and it appears to be clean, free of artifacts or pixilation and even the darker shots, for which there are many, are nice and stark throughout.
AUDIO – 4.0/5
The movie comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which is serviceable enough with crisp and clear dialogue levels though the track really comes to life when the demons come out to play providing some depth however it’s not the most dynamic track I’ve come across and considering the genre, kind of disappointing in some spots.
OVERALL – 3.5/5
Overall, Insidious: Chapter 3 is a competently well made flick with some good scares and decent performances from the main cast with Lin Shaye being a welcome member getting more back story for her character. The Blu-ray released by Sony is rather basic with good video/audio transfers and a forgettable selection of bonus material.
Brian Oliver aka The Movieman
Published: 10/09/2015
Check out some more screen caps by going to page 2. Please note, these do contain spoilers.