Subtitles:

English (SDH), French, none

 

 

The Film:

It's a simple story about a young family--Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) and their three small children--settling into a new home. Again following classical form, there's a presence in the house that either doesn't want them there, or needs them to stay for the evilest possible reasons. When 8-year-old Dalton (Ty Simpkins) falls into an unexplained coma after a spooky encounter in the attic, Renai starts seeing the above-mentioned figures lurking around the house, sometimes none too subtly. Though the goings-on are unexplainable, no one acts crazy and Josh believes that his wife's bizarre encounters are real. Like any sensible people who believe they've taken up residence in a haunted house, they move. But the spookiness moves with them and the menace gets worse as months pass and Dalton remains unconscious without reasonable medical cause. Since things can't stay unexplained forever, the plot begins to intrude, especially when a geeky pair of paranormal investigators (Angus Sampson and writer Leigh Whannell) provide some slightly out-of-kilter comic relief. Fortunately their boss (Lin Shaye) is a bona fide psychic who's all business, and she determines that the ghosts, or demons, or whatever they are want Dalton, not the house or its other inhabitants. As the explanations continue, it's revealed that the little boy has the gift of astral projection and his spirit has left his body without really knowing it's gone. If he doesn't come back soon he'll be lost forever, taken by the strongest of the creepy phantoms, a blood-red fiend who provides the most terrifying moments of half-glimpsed horror. It turns out that Dalton inherited his gift from Dad, who has repressed his own childhood encounters with out-of-body flight, but must revisit the dark limbo where all the specters lurk in order to reunite his son's body and soul.

Excerpt from James Berardinelli located HERE

Image :    NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

Insidious looks acceptable but not dynamic on Blu-ray from Alliance Films.  James Wan's standard 2.35:1, economically shot with a Red One MX camera, uses space nicely and the visuals are consistent and clean on a dual-layered Blu-ray, with a reasonable bitrate, reproducing a decent 1080P presentation. The film is fairly dark and contrast is layered well supporting the effects and lesser-lit sequences. The overall image probably looked similar theatrically. Modest and a bit greenish for HD but nothing worth complaining about.

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance provide a very healthy DTS-HD Master in 5.1 surround at 3509 kbps (24-bit) and spooky effects benefit from the robust lossless track with some crisp separations and shock-inducing bass. This adds significantly to the film experience - as does Joseph Bishara's (The Conjuring) chill-inducing score. There is an optional French DUB and English or French subtitles offered. My Oppo has identified it as being a region 'A' disc.

Extras :

 

 

BOTTOM LINE:
Insidious is entertaining (reviewed on DVD by Eric HERE.) It establishes itself exceptionally well in the first half and then goes full-horror in the second accepting the film's audience will carry a suspension of disbelief (it is a horror!). Wilson and Byrne are excellent and this is better than usual genre fluff without going overboard on effects and gore. This Blu-ray is an easy recommendation at the super-cheap price offered (in Canada or by Film District). They have even gone on to make an Insidious Chapter 2 and 3. Horror fans will definitely get something out of this, more intelligent and less in-your-face, 'haunting'. Recommended!

Gary Tooze

October 25th, 2016

Also available on Blu-ray from Film District in the US: