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The third chapter in the "Insidious" series takes an unexpected detour by establishing itself as a prequel to the events of the previous two films. In it we meet Elise (the wonderful LIn Shaye) a reluctant medium after an ominous warning from The Further and her husband's death sends her into a pit of depression and fearful self-doubt. However, the mounting attacks on a young girl by a hostile being from beyond soon force the grand dame to return to the fold (and maybe find some future friends while she's at it).
The production pretty much didn't do itself any favors by taking a creative step backwards with a prequel but a change at the helm furthered the damage. This go-round writer/producer Leigh Whannell directs and his much less fine-tuned approach to this type of material versus that of James Wan shows. While nothing is glaringly awful, Whannell just didn't possess the skill to evoke the atmosphere and visual tension that Wan did. He also returns to the well quite a bit when it comes to constructing an effective scare and some things end up losing their novelty. In short, Wan earned his jump scares with razor tense buildup and expectation while Whannell's attempts sometimes fall flat. That is not to say it's horribly incompetent, it's just a very dramatic step back.
On a similar note, the effects here also take a drastic turn in quality and hobble the scares at times. Very noticeable CGI touchups abound and the lighting sometimes is quite ineffectual in fostering the mood necessary for the ghastly affairs at hand. Really, it's a 50/50 affair for the most part, as some of the effects do stand out as relatively good in comparison to their lesser counterparts.
The most crushing blow to this entry however is the less than stellar protagonists that Elise and company must save from the affliction of the cruel entity. Secondary and tertiary characters feel grossly expendable while the central ones, Quinn Brenner and her father Sean (Stefanie Scott and Dermot Mulroney, respectively), just aren't alluring or easy to empathize with despite a relatable angle having to do with a recently deceased matriarch. Ultimately, their lackluster presence makes the wait for Elise's involvement feel uncharacteristically long. A few choice trims to the excess "character building" would of done much to expedite the events and make the pace feel much less languid. Unlike the magnetic presence of Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne in the previous entries, these characters just don't have much to offer.
It might seem like I absolutely loathe this movie. In fact, I do not, but I do find it to be the lesser offering in this series. Besides a decently creepy antagonist and the neat, "fan service" connective tissue to the previous entries, this can easily be disregarded. Unlike, its predecessors it doesn't add much to the rules of this horror universe and, worse, feels virtually unimportant given the impact of the other hauntings in the series.
HOWEVER, Lin Shaye's character is like the flame to the viewer's moth and she proves enough to keep us hanging around and wanting to know more about her. Likewise, for the competent and welcome comedic relief and dynamic between Specs and Tucker (Leigh Whannel and Angus Sampson). While it does feel a bit forced that we be shown how they came together and their previous lives, it is still a pretty fun time to be around these them. And, yes, some horror set pieces are decently effective, the antagonist is interesting enough, and the markers of the series are pleasant (Elise, The Further, etc). All this does not a complete experience make, however.
"Insidious Chapter 3" is not a bad movie but it's also not a great movie. It is more of a forgettable entry that might be proper to revisit every now and again if only for the feeling of completist achievement. Not for anyone but the most ardent of Insidious fans.
5/10
