Where I Watched It: Netflix

English Audio Description?: Yes

The Insidious franchise is something I’m not really familiar with. i did actually try to get caught up, but at the time, insidious was on MAX, and did not have audio description. Even with that, I did try to watch the first film so I could at least have some context. Obviously, a film full of nightmares and jump scares just doesn’t play well without audio description. Back when i could see, I do remember seeing stills of that Darth Maul looking creature, so I assume everything is just that.

But, even without audio description, insidious is still well directed, and paced as a horror title. This sequel, which now has the kid who was once in a coma now headed to college, is boring. It’s slow, it is uninspired, and just seems like the life of the franchise is being extended because the profit margin calls for it.

There are so many other options of where to take this series, like with a prequel, or even a flash forward. What if coma boy grew up and was a father himself? What if he was in a similar situation? I’m not the pitch machine for this franchise, and having not seen the progression of the sequels, I have no real concept of how we got here. I just know, I was bored.

This sequel traded out James Wan for Patrick Wilson at the helm, while he also stars, and Wilson just doesn’t have the skills that Wan does. It’s like watching Creed 3 and realizing that you are impressed that Michael B Jordan directed a decent film, even if it is nowhere near what Ryan Coogler can turn out. So, kudos to Wilson, but it’s just not a good film. I wasn’t invested in this art school experience, or the drawings he was making, and this history that might need to be unearthed. It just didn’t feel like the original, which I didn’t even have audio description on.

That being said, I suppose the audio description here is fine. There are some moments where you get glimpses of those things that scared you in the original film, but most of it seems like you just need to know what the kid is drawing. It’s a weird little film, and I don’t mean that in a good way.

Stop making uninspired sequels to this franchise.

Final Grade: D+