From its inception, the Insidious films have always been about what lies on the other side. The first film ended up as a distinct twist on the formula that Poltergeist created, and while Insidious was relatively well-received, its sequel was not. Despite being a direct continuation of the first film, Insidious: Chapter 2 just didn't connect with viewers like the first film did. Even so, both movies made a ridiculous amount of cash, and considering how low the films' budgets were, studios were quick to begin work on a second sequel.
Fans have been understandably curious about Insidious: Chapter 3. As a departure from what made the first film such a success, it runs the risk of alienating its fans, but at the same time, it doesn't want to fall into the same trap that the second chapter did. While it's still too early to tell how the film will fare, the first trailer for Insidious: Chapter 3 has finally been released, and it does shed quite a bit of light on the next entry in the franchise.
From what's present in the trailer, it's clear that Insidious: Chapter 3 is going to be a classic haunted house affair. The problem with horror movie trailers is that horror isn't something that's easily conveyed in such a short amount of time. There are some half-decent jump scares, but on its own, the trailer is a bit generic. The first shots are of the happy family, then jump scare, then some spooky shots and another jump scare. It's all pretty standard for the genre; hopefully the final movie will be a little bit more innovative.
While there's not a lot of actual plot present in the trailer, it does do a nice job of introducing Chapter 3's new family. It also reveals a few returning characters from previous Insidious films, but after the extremely poor critical reception of the second chapter, it seems that the filmmakers are distancing themselves as much as possible without simply rebooting the films. With any luck, this new angle will help the series feel fresh again.
There's still quite a ways to go before fans can see the finished film: Insidious: Chapter 3 is set for release on May 29, 2015.
