Sometimes a horror movie works, sometimes its laughably bad.
James Wan just a few months ago released a very effective horror thriller, The Conjuring (now playing in the cheap seats). Insidious: Chapter 2 bares some similarities
– but ultimately is a step backwards (most likely he was under contractual
obligation). Wan is a gifted filmmaker; this is not his finest hour. I think
the fact The Conjuring was based on the real life story of the Ed and Loarrine
Warren made it that much more interesting.
This is not to say Insidious: Chapter 2 couldn’t have been
interesting – I think the problem is it lacks those hansom details – its far
less ambitious and the characters are far less developed. It’s essentially
stuff you’ve seen before – including in Insidious, the 2010 hit that grossed
$54 million domestically on a budget of $1.5 million. So now you know why Part
II had to be made.
With that said I think part of the problem with Chapter 2 is that we’ve A.- Seen this all before and B.- Really don’t care the
way we did in The Conjuring. The Conjuring was effective in its use of atmosphere,
essentially the story of two families. Insidious: Chapter 2 is kind of a
run of the mill story – things go bump in the night, the dad becomes a demon with too little under the hood. It's like buying a car with seats and steering wheel but not radio. Restrained in its direction, it's just not very fun – mostly because all of the bumps and jumps
are expected.
The Lambart family (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) returns
to uncover a mystery buried within Mr. Lambart’s childhood. Lin Shayne (whom I
know best from There’s Something About Mary) plays a spirit hunter. Okay so
that happens, but it’s just not enough. Insidious: Chapter 2 feels cheap,
quick, and carelessly made – go see The Conjuring if you haven’t – better you
spend $2 on a good movie verses $10 on one that sucks.
All right, this is what a horror movie should be – The
Conjuring is a genuinely scary psychological thriller from James Wan (who
proves he’s got skill and even, dare I say, restraint). Legend (or marketing
hype) has it that The Conjuring (which in terms of violence is tame) was
originally targeting a PG-13 rating, when the MPAA slapped it with an R, when
the studio asked what they could cut to secure the teen friendly rating the
MPAA said, “It’s too scary”. And the studio ran with it.
A rare summer horror film that’s smart, it chronicles two
families – the Connecticut based paranormal investigators The Warrens (played
by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) and the Perrons, a family that moves into a
Rhode Island farmhouse they recently got a deal on (Lili Taylor and Ron
Livingston). The Perrons notice things that go bump in the night, including a
mysterious basement they didn’t know they had (and of course explore late one
night). The house is just as bad as one you’d find on the East Side of Buffalo –
poorly insolated and reeking out foul meat the family is at wits end when they
seek out Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The Warrens often investigate things for which there are
logical conclusions (pipes over heating causing creeks and noises in the middle
of the night for example) but are challenged by what they find at the Perrons.
They bring in external help to document the situation with the hope of convincing
the Catholic Church to provide an exorcism that is until things become life or
death.
The Conjuring is so skillful at what it does (and what it
doesn’t do) – there’s never a boring moment in the film. I think why it is so
successful is that it takes itself seriously and puts drama above those jump
scenes (don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of those too). Simply put there
are many smart directing choices made here including how the action is framed
(often in longer restrained takes). The film puts psychological fear above all
with a first rate cast that nails this material – this is an effective,
engaging, and fun movie.
Two new art house flicks that opened last week won't be sticking around to make room for some new digital files uploading (see we can't say unspooling anymore with the Market Arcade and Movieland 8 as our only 35MM houses in town)...including count em' four new flicks in the multiplex and two new ones (although one ought to cross over soon enough - - they've been screening it multiple times in town) art house flicks. The aforementioned Way Way Back we've seen and its delightful summer fun.
@ The Art House (Friday)
The Way Way Back - Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's delightful summer comedy/drama follows young Duncan (Liam Jones) through a memorable summer at a Massachusetts resort town as he fights for attention from his mom (Toni Collette) at her new boyfriend's (Steve Carell) beach house. The Sundance hit co-stars Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb, Maya Rudolph and Sam Rockwell as an operations manager at a local water park who shows Duncan the ropes.
Screening: Dipson Amherst, Dipson Eastern Hills
Girl Most Likely - From Shari Spriner Berman & Robert Pulcini, Kristin Wiig stars as a failed New York playwright who after a manic episode ends up in the care of her mom (Annette Bening) and some how at the Jersey Shore, the trailer made me laugh -
Screening: Regal Quaker Crossing, Dipson Amherst
@ The Multiplex (Wednesday)
Turbo - Looks like another recycled kids movie, Ryan Reynolds (big week for this guy) voices Turbo, a snail that, after a freak accident is now fast as lightening. I think we've seen this movie a few times (and will be seeing it again with Planes before the summer is over).
The Conjuring - from James Wan, this one chronicling the real life Paranormal investigators, The Warrens (played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson) allegedly was so scary the MPAA wouldn't grant it a PG-13 rating... Wan has my interest for sure.
Screening: Dipson Market Arcade, Dipson Flix, Regal Elmwood, Regal Transit, Regal Walden, Regal Hollywood 12, Regal Quaker Crossing, Transit Drive In, AMC Maple Ridge
R.I.P.D. - Oh it's a cheap shot to say R.I.P.D. looks D.O.A. - I'll give it the benefit of the doubt, it has Jeff Bridges....right...right... (also staring Ryan Reynolds, again in 3D)
R.E.D. 2 - Alright, another sequel no one asked for! Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins are back as Retired, Extremely Dangerous - - if Unfinished Song is too tame for you - here's your flick.
