Insidious: The Red Door (2023) marks a fitting end to the Lambert family’s demonic dilemma

The fifth (and potentially final) film in the Insidious franchise has arrived, and this time it’s not another prequel spin-off. Insidious: The Red Door revisits the Lambert family from the first two films, set nine years after the events which saw Josh and Dalton have their memories of The Further completely wiped. When their memories come flooding back, they must delve deeper into the Further than ever before.

The first two Insidious films are without a doubt modern horror classics. The duo of James Wan and Leigh Whannell created a mesmerising pair of original horror films that are so interlinked they work as one film. The use of The Further as a dimension where time is flexible made for some very interesting storytelling techniques. This sequel isn’t quite as inventive or intertwined as that original narrative, but it’s a strong addition to the franchise that wraps up the journey of the Lambert family – something fans have waited a long time for. Being set nine years after the second film, and releasing ten years later, a good chunk of the first act is understandably dedicated to re-establishing what all our characters are up to. There’s lots of time spent setting up the drastic relocation from a suburban house to a college campus, and also explaining how or why our protagonists begin to remember The Further. It’s usually great when a horror film takes time to build suspense, but this opening is a little slow and long-winded.

Once the introductions are over with and the central narrative gets going, that’s when it really starts building tension with some top quality scares. The Insidious franchise has always excelled in utilising both atmosphere and jumpscares to terrify its audience, and that continues here. There’s a solid mix of both forms of scares, if not a slight reliance on the jumpscares over atmospheric chills, but they’re both utlilised effectively. I can see the direct influence of writer/producer Leigh Whannell, who has found ways to use jumpscares in creative ways, like in 2020’s The Invisible Man. The scares in here aren’t entirely telegraphed – they caught me, a season horror vet, off guard many times and had me genuinely on edge. I’ve seen better uses of atmospheric horror, especially in Mike Flanagan’s works, but there’s no denying that any scene set in The Further is just naturally chilling due to the lurking threat of an endless abyss of dark souls.

The story doesn’t get bogged down in using nonsensical character decisions and plot conveniences to push things further, and it’s not just a scare-fest. There’s a genuine character-driven narrative that’s very rooted in the strength of a family sticking together – specifically in terms of father-son relationships. It gives the film depth and gives every character something to do in the context of the story. Balancing all these elements at the head of the film is Patrick Wilson, who makes his directorial debut. As one of the faces of both the Insidious and Conjuring universes, it’s a no-brainer that he’d know his way around crafting a horror film. There’s improvements to be made in terms of pacing, but he successfully executes a great number of scares and emulates the sense of unease felt in The Further very well.

The young Ty Simpkins is not young anymore, and it shows as he delivers a strong performance making him the film’s standout. The personality of this grown version of Dalton makes so much sense in the context of the story, and Ty sells the pain he’s in really well. Both in and out of the horror sequences, Ty is compelling and a strong protagonist. He shares great moments alongside Patrick Wilson, but it’s his pairing with Sinclair Daniel that’s the real surprise. Sinclair is introduced as Chris, the energetic college roommate – a role that initially looks to be a tough pill to swallow. However, her upbeat vibe and the way she contrasts with Dalton’s introverted demeanour makes for some fun breaks between the spine-chilling terrors.

In the end, Insidious: The Red Door makes for a great final chapter in the saga of the Lambert family – one that fans are no doubt bound to be pleased with. The story may not be as tight, focused and polished as the first two films, but the same level of depth is there with how family is crucial to the characters’ survival. A slow start is made up for with a strong use of jumpscares and more subtle horror techniques, culminating in a climax that’s appropriately haunting, even if it is missing any particularly memorable moments.

7/10