The Reel Review
An estranged father and son who each possess the ability to have out-of-body astral projection into the murky netherworld known as The Further must work together to save themselves from a demonic entity, in this fifth and presumably final installment in the Insidious supernatural horror franchise.
Patrick Wilson, Patrick Wilson, Patrick Wilson. The star of this sequel also makes his directorial debut and even sings lead in the closing credits in this last hurrah for the franchise. While Wilson at least maintains the spooky vibe for which the franchise is known, it is the story, from screenwriter Scott Teems, whose Firestarter nearly took the top spot on The Reelness’ 10 Worst Movies of 2022 and whose Halloween Kills almost made the 2021 list, where Insidious: The Red Door falls totally flat – it is profoundly boring and silly.
The franchise’s continued kid friendly, PG-13 rating leaves room only for some silly jump scares and ghouls plastered in heavy makeup. The reunion of Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor and Rose Byrne from the first two films as the beleaguered Lambert family may be fine enough to get hardcore fans to watch, but for the rest of us, this is one door best kept closed.
REEL FACTS
• Insidious: The Red Door is the first of the Insidious installments not written by Leigh Whannell, who, along with Lin Shaye and Angus Sampson, has appeared in all five films.
• Patrick Wilson’s wife, Dagmara Dominczyk, appears in the film as the voice of a priest. She is an accomplished writer and actor, having appeared in HBO’s Succession and 2021’s The Lost Daughter and 2019’s The Assistant.
• Despite being so bad, Insidious: The Red Door, filmed in New Jersey for $16 million, has made a whopping $188 million dollars.
Video & Photo
