Insidious: The Red Door, the fifth installment of the Insidious franchise and directed by Patrick Wilson, promises to take audiences on a chilling journey into the haunted memories of the past. However, the script by Scott Teems falls short, leaving viewers with little more than a stifling yawn. Starring Ty Simpkins, Rose Bryne, and Sinclair Daniel, this film picks up where Insidious 2 left off, with Josh Lambert (played by Wilson) grappling with suppressed memories of “The Further.” The story then takes a somber turn as Josh and his family mourn the loss of his mother, Lorraine. Amidst the funeral proceedings, Josh’s encounter with Carl, the man responsible for erasing his memories, reveals the depths of his amnesia.
In an attempt to reconcile, Josh and his son Dalton embark on a road trip to Dalton’s new school. However, their unresolved argument and the lingering effects of their haunting past threaten to tear them apart. Dalton’s college experience takes an unexpected turn when he meets his female roommate, Chris, due to a clerical error. As their friendship blossoms, Dalton’s subconscious exploration leads him to sketch the infamous red door, drawing him and his father further into the supernatural realm of The Further.
While the Insidious franchise has always offered glimpses of astral projection and its impact on reality, this installment fails to fully capitalize on these intriguing elements. The narrative meanders through unexplained supernatural phenomena, leaving Josh and Dalton to search for answers on their separate journeys. Despite maintaining the franchise’s eerie atmospheric tone, the film struggles to find a cohesive balance between the father and son storylines, leaving viewers waiting for the narratives to converge.
When the characters finally reach the truth, chaos and confusion ensue due to sloppy editing and a lack of cohesiveness. The story jumps around the series’ timeline and introduces surface-level ideas without fully exploring them. As the characters approach death, the film spirals into monotony and leaves audiences bewildered.
The relationships between characters also feel flat, lacking emotional depth. The introduction of Chris was intended to add levity but only contributes to the film’s convolution. While Wilson’s transition to the director’s chair seemed like a logical progression, Insidious: The Red Door fails to deliver the anticipated scares.
With a stronger script, Wilson’s full range of abilities could have been showcased. Unfortunately, the film falls short of its hauntingly thrilling potential, feeling like a three-hour ordeal despite its less than two-hour runtime. James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s original Insidious film set a high standard for horror mechanics that this installment fails to recreate. Overall, Insidious: The Red Door is a disappointing misstep that offers little in terms of horror or entertainment.
Title: Insidious: The Red Door
Distributor: Sony/Screen Gems
Release date: July 7, 2023
Director: Patrick Wilson
Screenwriter: Scott Teems
Cast: Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Hiam Abbass, Sinclair Daniel, Andrew Astor, Rose Byrne
Rating: PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 47 min
