INSIDIOUS (2010)

With special guest Allison Broder

Intro, Debate Society, To Sir With Love (spoiler-free): 00:00-28:58
Honor Roll and Detention (spoiler-heavy): 28:59-1:04:02
Superlatives (spoiler-heavier): 1:04:03-1:21:19

Director James Wan
Screenplay Leigh Whannell
Featuring Joseph Bishara, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey, Angus Sampson, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Leigh Whannell, Patrick Wilson

Released Apr 1, 2011
Budget $1.5 million
Box office $54 million US & Canada / $100.1 million worldwide.

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS

Things are looking up for the Lamberts: they just moved into a new home with their kids, Dalton, Foster, and baby Cali.  Father Josh, a teacher, is spending nights at work, while wife Renai, a songwriter, plunks lazily away at the piano. But when things start going bump in the night—doors opening, objects moving, ghostly faces in the dark—Renai’s nerves are frayed.  Josh isn’t sure what’s happening.  That’s when Dalton steals up to the attic, falls from a ladder, and is confronted by… something.  When they check on Dalton the next morning, he's seemingly in a coma, but doctors don’t know what’s wrong.  His signs are normal.  Fast forward: three months later.  Fed up with the nocturnal bumping, Renai insists it’s time to move, again, and Josh agrees. But there’s a problem: whatever was haunting house one is in not inclined to chill.  Urged by Josh’s mother Lorraine, they hire a trio of professionals: medium Elise Rainier and her assistants Specs and Tucker.  And soon enough,  the Lamberts learn what’s haunting them, and what they must do to rid their family of otherworldly demons.

SPOILER-FREE GUEST BIO

Allison Broder has been the host of the Who's There? podcast since 2020; on the pod she interviews horror fans and creatives about why they love the genre.  She lives in New York City. Recess snack: Gushers and Dunkaroos.

EPISODE NOTES

Music from Insidious by Joseph Bishara.

Why did Professor Louryk choose this film? Find out in our Blog.

TRAILER 

SUPERLATIVES

The Gaspar Noe Award for Most Disturbing Scene/Moment
Allison: Josh’s journey through The Further/witnessing the murder
Eric: The demon crawls down the hallway on the wall
Bradford: The botched seance/gas mask scene

The Ellen Ripley Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Live
Allison: Elise Rainier
Eric: Renai Lambert
Bradford: Elise Rainier

The Michael Myers Award for Character Who Most Deserves to Die
Allison: Josh Lambert
Eric: Elise Rainier
Bradford: [Abstaining]

The Ken Russell Award for Most Baroque Screen Moment
Allison: Any time the Lipstick-Face Demon (J. Bishara) is onscreen
Eric: The seance
Bradford: The demon’s house in The Further

The Beatrice Dalle Award for Character Who Could (or Should) Have Been Played by Beatrice Dalle
Allison: Lorraine Lambert
Eric: Crazy smiling lady in The Further who murders her family
Bradford: The Bride in Black

FINAL LETTER GRADE

Allison: B+
Eric: B
Bradford: A