31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Insidious 2" (2013)
The first chapter of "Insidious" played out like a classic haunted house movie until its third act. Up until then,
much of the film centered on atmosphere and dread. Once the nature of the beast
was revealed, the plot took a more paranormal-fantasy approach. Some viewers
found this shift disappointing, preferring the initial subtly.
Completely understandable, yes, though I opted to roll with the cinematic
punches and see where this quirky path was going.
Now obviously, I won't spoil any elements from Part 1, but I
will say it ends on a note that leaves material for a sequel.
"Insidious" could've been a one-shot horror film with an open ending.
However, a second installment doesn't feel forced, as it builds off the premise Part 1 left us with. That said, you
can't really watch "Insidious 2" without first having seen the
original.
While "Insidious", which I discussed in last
year's 31 Days of Draughts and Darkness, is in my mind the superior film, the
sequel still has plenty of great content. If you were in any way
intrigued by Part 1's story-within-a-story, you'll be happy to see it explored
in-full this time. The scares are less frequent and not as jarring, but we're
treated to a neat mystery along the way.
Let's check out "Insidious, Chapter 2".
The Plot:
Okay, this'll be a tricky one to write without a. - delving
into the first film too much, and b. - not spoiling sequel-specific plot points.
Part 1 had a relatively simple plotline that got slightly more twisty as the
story went on. Part 2's story is far more complex, jumping around different
points in time and built on a large mystery. There's a lot to follow along
with, so pay close attention.
I'll give you as basic a summary as I can."Insidious 2" picks up right where the
first one left off. The original revolved around saving the Lambert family's
elder son Dalton from a demonic haunting. The rescue attempt was successful.
Mostly.
While Dalton returned save and sound, a stowaway spirit
might have attached onto someone else. If you've seen Part 1, you know exactly
whom. Most of "Insidious 2" centers determining the nature of what
came back and how to stop it before it can fully possess its new host. As it
turns out, there's a lot of dark history behind this thing. The surviving
members of the first film must solve the mystery before the newly-possessed
family member succumbs entirely.
The Flavor:
To enjoy "Insidious 2", you need to know what
you're in for. The paranormal fantasy element from the first film plays a much
larger part here. If you can roll with the more out-there ideas, you'll enjoy
this film immensely. If it's a pure chiller you're looking for, you may find
the sequel disappointing. "Insidious" really only ventured into weird
territory close to the film's climax. The rest of it was a straight-forward and
very scary haunted-house film.
"Insidious 2" has plenty of grim atmosphere and
creepy imagery, but its concern is more about expanding the storyline than it
is scaring you. Many scares are of the jump-variety and do little to stay with
you after the initial shock. In Part 1, we're frequently scared because we have
no idea what the hell is going on. Something, something bad,
is behind it all, and even when we get a look at what that thing is, we're
still unable to fully comprehend it.
Part 2's malicious force is known from the
get-go. It was introduced in Part 1 and was actually one of the scariest moments
of that film. The challenge is to figure out what it wants
and why. And there's a lot more to it than one pissed-off ghost. As I
mentioned, the level of pure horror is reduced while the level of mystery
raised.
What it lacks in haunted house horror "Insidious
2" makes up for with possession-horror. The afflicted character grows
increasingly more dangerous as the film progresses, upping the stakes. This is
less snarling, "Exorcist"-style possession and more of the wolf-in-sheep's-clothing
variety. This entity doesn't want people to think it's attached to its host
until it can kill them in secret. Because of that, a character who was heroic
in the first film is now disturbing to be around.
Best Paired with:
For fans like myself who are interested in the lore behind
their horror, "Insidious, Chapter 2" provides plenty to sink one's
teeth into. I found myself less frightened and more wrapped up in the mystery,
and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Just as long as you can accept the film
taking that direction. If you're curious about where things will go next,
especially in regard to the film's ending, you'll have a great time here. There's
a good dose of spooky imagery and ideas, it's just not as consistently chilling
as Part 1.
Viewers with weak stomachs should have no problem here, as
there's little violence and no gore. What nasty deeds do occur are most
implied, in the past, or off screen. The details of the plot are indeed grim,
but they're frightening more for their ideas than what you're shown. Casual
movie-goers and those seeking some Halloween entertainment without being kept
up at night should enjoy "Insidious 2", so long as they don't mind
spending a night or two up after seeing "Insidious 1".
Accompanying Brew:
Tonight's beer may seem unrelated to "Insidious 2"
on the surface. It's how the flavors meld together that remind me of the
film. Much as tonight's film blends the various notes of horror and mystery,
so too does this brew mix together beer styles.
Frankenlager
Brewery: Smuttynose
-from their "Big Beer" series-
Where: Hampton, New Hampshire
ABV: 7.3%
Style: India Pale Lager
Beer enthusiasts tend
to love their hops. The bold, potent India Pale Ale (IPA) is one of the most
popular brews among the craft world. Conversely, the typical American
beer-drinker is far more familiar with the lager, a cold-brewed and crisp
refreshment. So what happens if we combine the hoppy profiles of an IPA with
the body of a lager? One of my very favorite styles of beer: the India Pale
Lager (IPL).
Color: Somewhere between a light straw-yellow and rich golden hue.
Aroma: Quite hoppy, unsurprisingly. There's a light cirtus-twinge to the
hop scent, with maybe a hint of spiciness. Light malt in the back, behind the
hops.
Taste: It actually takes a second for
the hop flavor to show up. The immediate taste you're introduced to is that of
a crisp, light lager. The malt character is fairly mellow. I can see drinking
this on a hot day. The hops show up at about the mid-point of the taste, first
noticeable as the brew reaches the middle and back of the tongue.
As for the hops, themselves, Frankenlager has managed to hit
a nice balance between flavorful and restrained. The hops don't punch you in
the face, but their presence is certainly not lacking. The flavor actually
goes nicely with the light, crisp malt taste and makes for a quite refreshing
beer that still brings the hop-kick.
Granted, I'm a hop fan and am used to hops, so I may be underselling the
potency of this flavor. Those less familiar might find this concoction more bitter.The hops themselves are slightly fruity, almost citrus-like,
slightly tart, but there's certainly some spiciness in there, too.
Aftertaste: As the malt flavor is delicate, any sweetness or
nuttiness that can be picked up from the initial sip quickly fades once the
hops show up. The hop flavor sticks around after you swallow, sticking a pleasant bitterness to the
back of the tongue.
That hop aftertaste helps kick-up the initial flavor of the
next sip. It almost changes the character of the beer as you drink, with it
getting progressively more hoppy over time.
To get that light, lager character back, wait a few moments between sips and/or
eat something salty.
Body: Light-to-medium in body, but I'd say more on the
lighter side. I enjoy how the lager character really comes through before the
hops show up. Hops can be powerful flavor torpedoes, so balancing them with the
lager body and refreshing nature can be a challenge. The term 'well-balanced'
comes to mind.
Pair: I can see this going quite well at a BBQ for those who
prefer stronger beers but want a summer body. There's a great balance between
mellow malt and just-enough hop kick to keep Frankenlager light but plenty
flavorful. Salty meats (salami, proscuitto, mortadella), cheeses, antipasto in
general would serve to highlight the flavors.
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