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‘Insidious’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan

March 23, 2021 · Insidious (2010) · Horror · Mystery · Thriller · 1:08:17 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

IMDb ↗Letterboxd ↗

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Who Won the Movie

Bill Simmons▶ 16:06James Wan — Multiple beneficiaries including the score with 39 violins, the premise of astral traveling, Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne's performances, James Wan as director, and Jason Blum/Blumhouse era
Bill Simmons▶ 1:03:35James Wan — completely changed the course of his career and the horror genre by refusing to be pigeonholed as the Saw guy
Chris Ryan▶ 17:19Oren Peli — Oren Peli - Israeli producer/writer who worked as producer and brought run-and-gun sensibility that helped rebirth the genre
Chris Ryan▶ 1:03:28Rose Byrne — 'wins it for me just for her performance', a really good mother-in-terror performance (with nods to the score composer/ghost Joseph Bishara)
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:03:47Lin Shaye — she becomes the star of the Insidious franchise for 10 years, going from 'that woman' to a recognizable linchpin of horror movies

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill Simmons▶ 25:49Kid falls off the ladder, the first evil baby monitor scene, and when they move houses and Rose sees people dancing/running in the new house (the realization the entity is following them)
Chris Ryan▶ 30:27Agrees with the scenes discussed, particularly emphasizing the 'people are haunted not the house' concept and the Tiny Tim needle drop scene
Sean Fennessey▶ 28:10Emphasizes the attic vs basement distinction (west coast vs east coast horror) and agrees the broad daylight scene with Tiny Tim song is the creepiest part

Casting What-Ifs

Bill Simmons▶ 47:49Ethan Hawke — Yes, the movie would be better with Ethan Hawke
Chris Ryan▶ 47:50Ethan Hawke — All movies are better with Ethan Hawke - agrees the movie would be better with him

Joey Pants Award

Bill Simmons▶ 48:27Lin Shaye — Lynn Shaye (who plays Elise) - calls her 'maybe number one for me all time for that guy'
Chris Ryan▶ 49:57Lin Shaye — Supports Lynn Shaye discussion by comparing her to Barbara Crampton as one of the 'two iconic horror actresses'
Sean Fennessey▶ 48:47Lin Shaye — Agrees Lynn Shaye is excellent, discussing her roles in Kingpin and There's Something About Mary, noting she's 'probably one of the most recognizable female that guys'

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill Simmons▶ 52:44James Wan put Easter eggs in Josh's classroom scene including his name on chalkboard, cast names, and Saw references due to low budget; old woman demon was played by a man but wasn't established as male character until sequel

Apex Mountain

Bill Simmons▶ 54:09The Conjuring — Initially argued for James Wan with this movie, then agreed it's The Conjuring because it leads to Fast & Furious
Chris Ryan▶ 54:33The Conjuring — Agreed The Conjuring is more of a blockbuster and prefers The Conjuring franchise to Insidious
Sean Fennessey▶ 54:44The Conjuring — The Conjuring for James Wan - made three times as much money, better movie, more significant contribution

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill Simmons▶ 1:01:16Why does the wife always know something is wrong with the house before the husband does
Sean Fennessey▶ 1:02:11Where does Ty Simpkins's character rank in the possessed kid power rankings

Movies Referenced (41)

The Conjuring (2013)

10 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 7:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Scream (1996)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 11:08IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Sinister (2012)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 12:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Shining (1980)

5 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 43:38IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Fargo (1996)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 25:21IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Hostel (2005)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 9:47IMDb ↗Lb ↗

The Exorcist (1973)

4 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 12:44IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Changeling (2008)

3 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 11:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Cabin Fever (2002)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 10:20IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chernobyl Diaries (2012)

2 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 17:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Deadpool (2016)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 23:36IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Friday the 13th (1980)

2 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 4:53IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Directors Referenced (5)

Michael Mann

4 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The Insider, Collateral, The Last of the Mohicans▶ 13:49IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Barry Levinson

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Rain Man, Wag the Dog▶ 18:19IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Eli Roth

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan · Known for The House with a Clock in Its Walls, Inglourious Basterds▶ 9:23IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Clint Eastwood

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Million Dollar Baby, Gran Torino, Unforgiven▶ 6:07IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rob Zombie

1 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for The Devil's Rejects, The Lords of Salem▶ 5:02IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Actors Referenced (17)

Patrick Wilson

11 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for The Phantom of the Opera, Hard Candy, Insidious▶ 12:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Chevy Chase

9 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Memoirs of an Invisible Man, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation▶ 21:54IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Rose Byrne

8 mentions · Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Insidious, If I Had Legs I'd Kick You▶ 12:56IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Johnny Carson

5 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Fargo▶ 21:29IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Jamie Lee

3 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Brave, Cold Mountain▶ 3:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Angie Dickinson

2 mentions · Bill Simmons · Known for Rio Bravo, Dressed to Kill, Point Blank▶ 32:00IMDb ↗Lb ↗

George C. Scott

2 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Patton, The Hustler▶ 14:45IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ouija Whittemore

2 mentions · Chris Ryan▶ 28:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Ryan Reynolds

2 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey · Known for Deadpool 2, Deadpool, Deadpool & Wolverine▶ 23:33IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Bo Jackson

1 mentions · Bill Simmons▶ 16:03IMDb ↗Lb ↗

David Carradine

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey · Known for Kill Bill: Vol. 2▶ 31:35IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Elando Baltimore

1 mentions · Sean Fennessey▶ 18:28IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Writers Referenced (3)

James Wan

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey · Known for Saw, The Conjuring 2, Insidious▶ 3:55IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Roger Ebert

8 mentions · Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 20:14IMDb ↗Lb ↗

Mike Flanagan

1 mentions · Chris Ryan · Known for The Life of Chuck▶ 28:26IMDb ↗Lb ↗