The Lambert family’s story may be done, but just when you thought Insidious was over, a new sequel has come “Out of the Further“. The Insidious franchise is a household name and proven money maker, but the question arises; is this sequel a sloppy attempt at cashing in on a big name, or does it present a genuine storytelling opportunity.
Let’s look at the narrative first; set a few weeks after the events of the last film, it focuses on a new family of characters who come into contact with the demons of The Further. Gemma (Amelia Eve) realises she can to travel into The Further; an ability that sparks interest from a new villain who has been lurking in the spirit realm, waiting for a chance to escape. While the core narrative may be new, it doesn’t forget the 5-film lore it has spent 15 years building; acknowledging the Lambert Family and keeping Elise (Lin Shaye) around as the heart and soul of the franchise. It feels like a passing of the torch in the best way, not necessarily forcing these new characters as the franchise mainstays, but proving there’s more stories to tell revolving around the franchise’s most unique element; The Further.
Speaking on the character-level story first; it is a relatively straightforward supernatural horror film at its core. It tells a good story that feels fresh with a strong protagonist who brings some emotional weight to the film. It packs some neat narrative surprises that ensure it differs from previous franchise entries, and turns out to be a very thrilling and rewarding horror sequel. I started off thinking these new characters couldn’t carry the franchise beyond this, but by the end I changed my tune and would love to see them going forward. The level of growth and their arcs see over the course of the film is fantastic, showing the love and care that went into making this film more than just a lazy cash grab. I also feel like the new revelations with The Further present an array of opportunities for more twists in the lives of these characters.
What I love most about this movie is that it really feels like an Insidious film; not because of its title, but because of its tone and the way it deeply explores The Further. The titular realm is such a unique location, with its own rules and a distinct atmosphere, that this is immediately recognisable as an Insidious film. This narrative proves that we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible in the link between the human and spirit worlds, meaning this franchise could make it all the way up to 10 films and I wouldn’t be mad about it. As far as the horror is concerned, there’s a good mix of both atmospheric scares, creepy imagery and jumpscares, coupled with a relatively high level of tension that’s maintained for the majority of the film. The first half is a little on the slower end, but it’s not as much of a burden given this is almost a soft reboot for the franchise with the need to establish new characters. The latter half is more fast paced and drenched in suspense as the chaos of The Further is unleashed.
The new lead is played by Amelia Eve, who is just fantastic in this role. She was excellent in The Haunting of Bly Manor and in a way plays this role very similarly. She brings a strength and drive to her performance that makes the protagonist fun to root for, but also a distinct softness that makes her likeable and genuine. Her ability to reflect this duality so effortlessly is a testament to her acting abilities, and in turn it enhances this film by building tension in key horror sequences. The supporting cast is filled with fine background players; all contribute well to the film and are propelled by solid writing, but none stand out aside from Lin Shaye, who is just synonymous with the franchise and once again nails her character, leaving a legacy she’ll be remembered by. Lastly, this is Jacob Chase’s second feature length film and I’m now more than intrigued in seeing his future horror projects. He’s proved himself able to faithfully emulate an existing franchise’s tone, so I want to see more of his ideas on the big screen.
In the end, Insidious: Out of the Further keeps the franchise alive with its best entry since Insidious: Chapter 2. It honours the franchise’s legacy so far while keeping the narrative going with new characters (and familiar faces). It’s full of tension and weaves in good scares from start to finish, with The Further being the driving force behind the chilling atmosphere, lots of terrifying demons and most intriguing narrative elements. Backed by a strong protagonist and the potential for more stories going forward, all overseen by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, horror fans should be excited for more insidious in the future.
8.1/10
