Not only did James Wan’s INSIDIOUS do phenomenally well at the box office ($97m from a budget of $1.5!) but it also holds the honour of being the third movie ever to make me violently bolt from the living room chair and momentarily leg it across the room in fright*. Seriously. (And no, I’m not proud.) I love horror flicks, it’s easily my favourite genre, so naturally I’ve sat through, and been suitably effected by, all the classics – but this scare was that masterfully handled that my dormant fight-or-flight instincts kicked in and for a split-second had my ass running for the door. (Thank God I didn’t see it in a cinema.) Bizarrely the moment in question had already been seen in all the trailers, yet it still packed a powerful punch. For anybody who saw the movie, I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to pin-point it. As for the rest of the movie – it ain’t too shabby on the scare factor either, so much so it’s almost a relief when the third act takes a distinctively more fantastical turn and the build up of dread dissipates.

* For those interested the other two movies that have provoked this strange response, they were JACOB’S LADDER (kid in the mirror), and ARACHNOPHOBIA (dock-off spider jumps at the camera). Admittedly the latter was more down to me being a big mard-arse when it comes to those eight-legged little bastards rather than quality filmmaking.

Anyhoooo. On with the news…

January 2013 will see Wan get back behind the camera for INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2, based on a script by returning writer and long-time collaborator Leigh Whannel (who also played paranormal investigator Specs in the original). Also confirmed to return for the sequel are stars Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins and Lin Shaye.

Expect INSIDIOUS CHAPTER 2 to arrive in UK cinemas shortly after its US release on August 30th 2013, hot on the heels of Wan’s other high profile horror flick THE CONJURING.

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