Breaking Down the Scariest Moments of 'Insidious'

These days there are few horror movies that really scare me. As a movie snob, I challenge all filmmakers to find a way to bury their creepy images deep into my psyche. As such, I had heard a lot of commotion about the movie "Insidious" (starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne). Touted one of the scariest movies of all time, I wondered what exactly made this movie so different from the string of PG-13 films that have inundated the movie industry. After I watched it, I came to these conclusions.

One of the creepiest scenes in the film involves the use of a baby monitor. When Renai (Byrne) hears the strange whispers, I was immediately reminded of a Spanish horror film called "The Baby's Room" (2006). The notion of otherworldly voices being heard through our modern devices is extremely unnerving. Director James Wan took things up a notch when the voice in "Insidious" turns insistent and violent.

The Front Door Scene

You know you've got problems when you lock and chain your front door only to find it wide open seconds later. This particular part of the film had a very Amityville-like quality to it. This incident also marks the first time that Renai sees an apparition in the house.

As Renai gathers up the children, she first stops in baby Cali's room. It is at this moment that she sees an apparition of a man in the window. The subtlety of his appearance was what made the scene so realistic.

The "Boy-Thing"

One of the scariest parts of the film for me involved the appearance of "the boy-thing." Josh (Wilson) moves his wife and family to a new house. But this certainly doesn't stop the supernatural drama from taking over in the new abode. While taking out the trash, Renai returns and sees a strange boy-like person dancing in front of her record player. (Dancing apparitions?!? How creepy is that?!) She chases the apparition through the house finally locating him in her son's room. The ghost playfully hops out of a cabinet. As it lunges at her we see that he is not a boy at all, but rather a horrible man/boy entity -- (((This scene still haunts me.)))

That $*@!#% Tiny Tim Song

I am perhaps a little too young to really appreciate the eccentricity that was Tiny Tim. The late singer is responsible for "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" (released in 1968)---the infectiously unnerving song heard throughout most of "Insidious." While this song's origin escapes most moviegoers, its Creep Factor is undeniable. The saccharine innocence of the song only punctuates the film's wonderful weirdness.

Twisted alternate realities have always held a special place in my heart. "The Further" as described by medium Elise (played by Lin Shaye) is perhaps one of the creepiest places on Earth. This nightmarish space is inhabited by live "porcelain dolls" who appear to be re-creating a violent act over and over again. Elise advises Josh not to talk to anyone. Of course this means that Josh must poke, prod, and question all the living "mannequins" he encounters in the strange 'Otherworld.'

Ironically, I was less afraid of The Lipstick Demon (the red-faced entity haunting Dalton) as I was the cumulative presence of all the entities in "Insidious." As usual, the film has its fair share of critics. Many feel that the second half of the movie doesn't live up to its tension-building beginning. Others deem the production nothing more than a "Poltergeist" knockoff. But the truth is that this is one of the few movies that choose to address the mysterious concept of astral travel---a topic I find infinitely fascinating.

Whether you like or hate this film, it can't be denied that "Insidious" capitalizes off the power of subtlety. Perhaps horror films of the future will take note of this trend.

SOURCES:

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