We are back for another chapter in the Insidious-verse, or whatever this franchise is officially called. I will be completely honest with you: this sequel did not hit the same way the first one did. In fact, it is a massive step down.Directed by James Wan, the movie picks up right where the original left off, following the Lambert family as they try to uncover the secrets of the spirit world. But honestly, the only genuinely memorable moment in this entire film is the part where Rose Byrne's character, Renai, absolutely gets slapped up by the crazy ghost mother in the living room. That Woman in White delivered a hit so aggressive I practically felt it through the screen.

Beyond that slap, the story is a scattered mess. I felt like I was doing entirely too much work just trying to connect the dots and keep up with where we were in the timeline. When a horror movie makes you do homework to understand its astral projection mechanics and time-traveling ghosts, it leads to the audience completely switching off in parts. That is exactly what happened to me.Also, we need to talk about the kids. Where the heck does the other brother, Foster, go when all this supernatural stuff happens?

He was barely on screen in the first movie, and he is just as sidelined here. But the absolute worst offense in the movie is the child care. There is a scene where the babysitter literally drops the kids off in the driveway and just speeds away without even making sure they got inside the house safely. Are you kidding me? While they are being actively hunted by ghosts? That is an immediate one-star Yelp rating for that babysitter, pal. Overall, I found this movie to be a bit "eh."

It was tedious and not particularly scary. Maybe when I eventually watch all the films in this franchise, my rating will change based on how the overarching lore connects, but for now, this is a big step down from the first.