What started back in 2010 with the introduction to the Lambert family and the horrors they faced in “The Further” now gets its final chapter to fort the family in Insidious: The Red Door, which is the sequel to Chapter (2013) which is the second film in the franchise!
In Insidious: The Red Door, the horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.
The original cast from Insidious is back with Patrick Wilson (also making his directorial debut), Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne and Andrew Astor. Also starring Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass. Produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli, James Wan and Leigh Whannell. The screenplay is written by Scott Teems from a story by Leigh Whannell and Scott Teems, based on characters created by Leigh Whannell.
Now before I start, I have to mention that there is a chronological order to the Insidious movies and so Insidious: The Red Door is a sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) and not the previous film that was Insidious: The Last Key (2018) which was a sequel to the prequel Chapter 3 (2015), yeah I know that does get a little confusing.
The new film starts off where Chapter 2 finished and then jumps forward nine years where things have changed with the Lambert family, starting with rather a sombre mood at the funeral of Josh’s mother, we learn that Josh (Wilson) and Renai Lambert (Byrne) are no longer together and Josh is finding it hard to be the father he wants to be, Dalton (Simpkins) is also finding it hard to connect with his father.
But with what they both went through together nine years ago it’s no wonder that the secrets that they have deeply hidden are trying to make their way back into their lives as well as the “Lipstick-face demon” that wants to leave “The Further“.
After Josh drops Dalton off at college, things slowly start to unravel as Dalton opens his mind to his deepest depths during an art lesson and lets something back out to strike fear into him and his family yet again.
It’s great to have the Lambert Families story back for the 5th outing of the franchise and I have to say that I enjoyed the movie much more than the last two movies that were released which were the prequels, Insidious: The Red Door is also a directorial debut for Patrick Wilson and I have to say that has certainly picked up on some of the techniques that he has seen and been part of in The Conjuring Universe.
Having the same cast member playing Dalton since the first movie really works, many movies would recast the actor, but thankfully having the actor return gives you more familiarity with the character now that he is older. It’s the same for Dalton’s brother Foster (Andrew Astor) having him back for this final Lambert movie is perfect.
There are some great moments that really have you looking more into the scenes to see subtle touches, such as a scene with Josh in his car sending messages to his son and in the background you can just make out something very blurry in the background, it slowly becomes more clear (but never clear enough to see perfectly) before it’s gone again. It’s a scene in which you expect something terrifying to happen but it just plays on your mind and sets you up for things that will happen later in the movie.
With any horror movie, it’s going to be dark in many scenes to set you at unease and Insidious: The Red Door is no exception. I found myself looking into the distance of the scenes to spot whatever I could to see what was coming which has you constantly doubting yourself as the terrors that the film is about to throw at you.
The sound in the movie is also something that has the hairs on the back of your neck standing to attention, right from the title card you are given an unnatural sound that you aren’t sure what it is and then you think you yourself, “I don’t want to know what that is”.
Joseph Bishara’s soundtrack certainly adds to the atmosphere of the movie, he’s brought the soundtrack to all the Insidious movies so you know what you are getting when it comes to the tension of various scenes.
What about the jump scares? Well, I have to say that for me I jumped once, but that’s nothing against the movie, far from it. Over the years reviewing many movies I think I may have gotten used to most of the tricks to scare the movie watcher. But there were plenty of other people jumping and some even turning their heads to one side to try and dodge the scary moments. So if you do find horror movies scary then this may be one that will have you clinging to the seat.
Does Insidious: The Red Door have a pre-credit scene?
Yes, it does, but before I get to that the end credits have an amazing cover version of Shakespeares Sister’s Stay which is a brilliant collaboration between Patrick Wilson and the Swedish rock band Ghost, I have to say that it’s this track that kept me in the cinema watching the credits.
At the end of the credits, the screen fades to black and The Red Door reappears with the flickering light above it before fading to black again. So on that we could be getting an Insidious 6, in an interview with Discussing Film, producer Jason Blum explained the fifth instalment will be the last we’ll see of the franchise for a “while”.
“It may not be a forever rest, but it’s certainly going to be a very long rest,” Blum said. “So, if someone comes up with some idea in 10 years, who knows? But there’s not a plan – as there has been with every prior Insidious movie – there’s no current plan in place for number six.”
If you are a fan of the franchise then Insidious: The Red Door is certainly a movie that finally gives some closure to the story that started back in 2010, it’s certainly a movie that works best on a big screen in a darkened room.
Face your demons!
Movie title: Insidious: The Red Door (2023)
Movie description: The Lamberts must go deeper into The Further than ever before to put their demons to rest once and for all.
Date published: July 12, 2023
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 47m
Director(s): Patrick Wilson
Actor(s): Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Summary
The 5th movie in the Insidious franchise is a fitting sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
