MovieChat Forums > Insidious (2011) Discussion > Horror for kids?

Horror for kids?

posted a year ago by Rusty (548)
5 replies | jump to latest

Just watched this for the first time and found it enjoyable enough but it didn’t remotely live up to the hype.

It all felt very safe and relied too heavily on the tedious loud ‘DUUUMMMMMM!’ noise for cheap boo-scares. The horror was all explained and didn’t offer much that was new… which puts you on a sure footing. Compare that to a David Lynch film where you have no idea what the next moment will be, nothing is explained, and yet it feels true on a deep level.

It had some good moments though - the sudden child coma was a dark and unpredictable turn, some of the sudden demon faces were effective, and the ending was a nasty surprise.

But when you’ve seen stuff like The Exorcist which borders on extreme cinema with its shockingly profane content, or needed a shower after the slow creeping evil of Rosemary’s Baby which gets under your skin… stuff like Insidious feels very tame.

Hell even more recent fare like Hereditary feels far more dangerous and truly black-hearted. Ari Aster is touching on something deep and dark in the human psyche, James Wan seems to be giving the kids a few boo-scares.

Anyone agree?

[–] Kowalski (58941) a year ago

WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE UNABLE TO OFFER THEIR OPINION WITHOUT THROWING SHADE AT OTHERS WHO DO NOT AGREE?

[–] Rusty (548) a year ago

Try asking someone who does that 🤷🏻‍♂️

[–] Kowalski (58941) a year ago

WHATEVER YOU SAY,KID.

[–] Drusilla (503) a month ago

Love the Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby and also love this.

[–] BlackChristmas (259) a month ago

I wouldn't say so. If you showed Insidious to an 8 year old they'd probably crap their pants! It's a supernatural scare ride that delivers without the need for gore, nudity or grotesque themes. That's why people consider it tame or lesser. Some blood and breasts and people would give it more credit.

The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby are amongst the best horror movies of all time but I wouldn't say The Exorcist is 'extreme cinema' nor do I find Rosemary's Baby to be that unnerving. Those movies are strong through the screenplays, acting and masterful direction. I feel quite confident in saying that most younger viewers would find Insidious scarier than The Exorcist and definitely more scary and entertaining than Rosemary's Baby. For better or worse many people find the scares in Insidious more frightening than a 12 year old girl swearing and throwing up.

As for Ari Aster. I like his movies but whilst he utilizes dark themes he also has a real goofy sort of stoner black comedy element to his movies. I found Hereditary amusing when I first saw it, I got chewed out online for saying it was funny but seeing his next two efforts and from what I've heard of his short-movies I feel like I was right on the ball and his movies are intentionally a bit comedic, they verge on kitsch.

Anecdotally I've heard that some screenings of Hereditary had the audience laughing their heads off and that the Swedes thought Midsommar was a hilarious black comedy.