Insidious

Insidious, a humble little horror film directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannel, was released in 2011. The film, which stars Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne, follows a family that moves into a cursed mansion... only to discover that it is not the mansion that's cursed.

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The picture was a smashing success. It was the highest-grossing movie of 2011 and generated a whole series chronicling the background of the protagonists and the universe introduced in the original film. It pushed mainstream horror to a new level in the minds of viewers and subtly altered the contemporary genre. Indeed, these changes were so delicate that you may have missed it entirely.

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Not long ago, horror was seen as a childish genre. Except for high school kids searching for fun things to do on a Sunday night, the genre seemed very much like it lacked an audience. That changed with Insidious. It was the very first scary movie in a long time that seemed as if it appealed to a broader crowd. The film's solid family dynamic and maturity make it as appealing for adults seeking horror with substance as it is for the younger viewers.

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Director: James Wan

Year of Release: 2011

IMDB Score: 6.8

Metascore: 52