By Staci Layne Wilson
@StaciWilson

Insidious is a series of boo-scare big-screen thrillers that are rated PG-13 but pack an R-style punch. Inspired by old school shockers like The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist, the first two films concentrated on the evil entities who plagued the Lambert Family and were subsequently driven out by the small but super-strong psychic medium, Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye).

In Insidious: Chapter 3, some of the same sinister spirits are back – and so is Elise to do battle with them – but this time the beleaguered family are The Brenners, broken by grief after the loss of beloved wife and mother, Lily. It’s Lily’s daughter Quinn (Stefanie Scott) who finds Elise and brings her out of retirement. At first, it seems as though it’s the sweet spirit of Lily who’s reaching out, but… it’s an insidious imposter.

The dastardly demon will stop at nothing to possess the body of the beautiful young lady – even if that means she has to be broken first. After Quinn is hit by a car that shatters both her legs before careening away, she’s a sitting duck in two thigh-high plaster casts when the foul phantom comes to her house and begins its wicked work.

Elise gets wind of the evil plan and comes to the rescue, along with a pair of bona fide ghost-busters, Tucker (Angus Sampson)and Specs (Leigh Whannel, who also wrote and directed the film).

One of the trademarks of the Insidious franchise is its incredibly effective, dense and textured music and sound design. Orchestrated with industrial flourishes and percussive panache by Joseph Bishara, the scores of these films are every bit as much characters as are the actors. In fact, Bishara is one of the actors, too! (He’s concealed in monstrous demon makeup.)

Since Insidious: Chapter 3 is a prequel, it stands alone quite nicely. Shaye is great as Elise, and it’s fun to see how she meets Tucker and Specs and what led to the trio teaming up. After you watch Insidious: Chapter 3, you can go directly to Netflix and check out the first one, and Chapter 2. And then… you’ll be sleeping with all the lights on and Elise’s digits on speed dial!

Rated PG13
1 hour 37 minutes

Get times and tickets at Fandango.com.

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