Latest ‘Insidious’ installment saved by scare factor
“Insidious: Chapter 3” is a series of cheap jump scares that suffers from a dull plot. The story follows Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott), a teenager who is haunted by a demon spirit after she tries to contact her deceased mother on her own. To destroy this demon, her father, Sean Brenner (Dermot Mulroney), enlists the help of the reluctant psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye).
Bottom line, “Insidious: Chapter 3” is a marginal improvement over the second chapter, with effective jump scares and good directing, but overall, the film fails to mirror the scares of the original film. “Insidious: Chapter 3” borrows elements from “The Exorcist” but does little to surpass the film. There is nothing original about the script, but the frightening scenes do make this horror film sufficient with its scare factor.
The best aspect of the film was how the director depicted the evolution of Shaye’s character, a recurring medium in the series. Her backstory reveals rather well how she struggled with the use of her gift, and sets the stage for the original film by introducing familiar supporting actors and demons.
Audiences who look forward to jumping in their seats will enjoy “Insidious: Chapter 3” because it frequently uses this ploy throughout the film. However, these jump scares cannot hide a weak script, no matter how effective they are individually. Luckily, supporting actress Shaye steals the show, providing a stellar performance and making the film more bearable to get through.
Rating: 2.5/5
More Stories
USF football head coach Alex Golesh: The man behind the process
Football coach Alex Golesh said USF has been on his mind since his own days as a college student when the program was top five in the country. “I distinctly remember sitting there watching it and thinking ‘What is S Florida and what are they doing in the top five in the country?’” Golesh said. […]
Amplifying alumni: From Lightning fan to production manager
Growing up just outside of Tampa in Brandon, Florida, USF alumna Felicia Sablan said she’d always had a desire to work in sports. After graduating from USF in 2017 with a mass communications degree, Sablan was able to live out her dream. She’s now the manager of production operations for Amalie Arena’s Vinik Sports Group […]
Anthropology professor mixes activism with science
When anthropology professor Erin Kimmerle was approached by Hillsborough officials to research unmarked burial grounds in the county, she saw an opportunity to reconnect Tampa with its forgotten history. “There’s a lot of towns today that are either ghost towns or absorbed into Tampa and don’t exist anymore,” she said. “But those places used to […]
Fortified Bulls: Inside USF’s self defense club
What would you do if someone was trying to attack you on campus? If you’re a member of the Bullfighters club, you might feel more prepared to answer. Bullfighters of Florida (BUFF) at USF is a club that focuses on self-defense and martial arts that meets every Wednesday. The club’s president Julia Hoover, a biology […]
‘It’s a family away from home’: USF’s number one fan, the Herd of Thunder
In December, USF football made its first bowl game appearance in five years. Traveling to Boca Raton with the Bulls was USF’s marching band, Herd of Thunder – or better known as ‘HOT.’ Just like some seniors on the football team, senior biology major Luis Hernandez didn’t expect to experience a bowl game during his […]
‘There’s almost no boundaries’: USF Library dean finds ways to combine passion and work
As Dean of USF Library Todd Chavez and his wife embarked into the Gulf of Mexico on his kayak, he could not have imagined how a seemingly insignificant summer morning was going to change his life. “I get a text that says I have to be on a phone call in 30 minutes,” he said. […]