Horror writers James Wan and Leigh Whannell in Birmingham

Horror writers James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the creative team behind the Saw film franchise, were signing posters for their latest horror smash Insidious at Birmingham’s Forbidden Planet store this evening.

As the brains behind modern-day horror met with ardent fans at the city’s premier cult comic store, I Am Birmingham’s Discord Adonis tagged along to meet the duo in the flesh.

Director Wan and writer/actor Whannell – who met and teamed up at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology’s highly respected film and media school in Australia – rose to success after developing the world and characters that would become known as Saw, now the most successful horror movie series of all time according to 2011’s Guinness World Records.

Melbourne-born writer Whannell began his career as an actor appearing in Australian series such as Neighbours and Blue Heelers and as a presenter on the cult hit TV series Recovery, which he later went on to host in its last two seasons. In addition to his work on the screenplay for Saw II, Whannell wrote and starred in Saw III and is an Executive Producer on the Saw franchise and a creative consultant on the Saw video game. Whannell’s other writing credits include the Universal release Dead Silence.

In Insidious, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) have a happy family with their three young children. When tragedy strikes their young son, Josh and Renai begin to experience things that science cannot explain. From the creators of both Saw and Paranormal Activity, this new chapter in horror combines the innocence of childhood with supernatural forces, possession, hauntings and demons.

Fans at the comic and merchandise store waited patiently as Wan and Whannell signed posters, toys, DVDs and joked with visitors who had come to see them. They concluded their evening with a special advanced screening of the film at Showcase cinema in Birmingham’s Broad Street, followed by an exclusive Q&A session.

Insidious posters and merchandise are available from Forbidden Planet stores and online at www.forbiddenplanet.com. The film is out in UK cinemas on April 29, and contains strong horror and menace.

Watch the video of the event here and view our gallery here.

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