Name: Insidious: The Red Door
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Released: 2023-07-05T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Lin Shaye, Sinclair Daniel

The first time Dalton Lambert sets foot in his college art class, he doesn’t just sketch a door—he draws an entire portal into the nightmarish Further. This unsettling moment, captured in Insidious: The Red Door, sets the stage for Patrick Wilson‘s directorial debut, a film that attempts to blend familial drama with supernatural horror but ultimately stumbles under the weight of its own ambition.

As the fifth installment in the Insidious franchise, The Red Door serves as a direct sequel to Chapter 2, picking up nine years after Josh Lambert’s (Wilson) possession. The film’s premise is intriguing—a divorced Josh, grappling with repressed memories and a strained relationship with his now-college-aged son Dalton (Ty Simpkins), must confront the ghosts of his past both literally and metaphorically. However, the screenplay by Scott Teems struggles to weave these emotional threads into a cohesive narrative.

Wilson’s direction is competent, as noted by Metacritic reviewers, but it lacks the visual flair and pacing mastery that James Wan brought to the earlier films. The film’s slow burn approach feels deliberate but often meandering. Scenes drag on without sufficient tension buildup, making the eventual jump scares feel more like cheap thrills than earned moments of terror.

Where The Red Door finds its strength is in its commitment to the franchise’s signature elements. The Further remains a visually striking and unsettling realm, with practical effects for the red-faced demon adding a layer of authenticity that CGI-heavy horror films often lack. The sound design, particularly in the scenes within the Further, is exceptional, using eerie whispers and distorted noises to create an atmosphere of dread.

The film’s attempts at emotional depth are commendable but ultimately fall short. The strained relationship between Josh and Dalton is a compelling premise, but the screenplay struggles to develop it meaningfully. Scenes between Wilson and Simpkins often feel stilted, lacking the natural chemistry that could have grounded the film’s more horrifying moments in emotional truth.

Performances are a mixed bag. Wilson’s dual role as actor and director is commendable, but his direction lacks the polish seen in previous entries. Simpkins delivers a competent performance, but the emotional beats between him and Wilson often feel forced. Hiam Abbass, in her limited screen time as Professor Armagan, brings a much-needed gravitas to the film, but her character feels underdeveloped.

The film’s reliance on franchise lore is both its strength and its weakness. While it attempts to tie up loose ends for the Lambert family, it often feels like fan service rather than fresh storytelling. The film’s adherence to genre conventions means it doesn’t push the boundaries of supernatural horror in any significant way. This makes The Red Door feel more like a nostalgic trip down memory lane than a groundbreaking entry in the franchise.

One of the film’s most glaring issues is its pacing. The slow burn approach drags the film down, making it feel more like a chore than a thrilling descent into horror. The rushed finale feels more confusing than climactic, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

The originality of The Red Door is further hampered by its reliance on jump scares and surface-level frights. While these elements can be effective in smaller doses, their overuse in the film makes them feel predictable and uninspired. The screenplay struggles to maintain a cohesive narrative, often feeling like a collection of disjointed sequences rather than a unified story.

Despite its flaws, The Red Door has its moments. The Further remains a visually striking and unsettling realm, and the sound design amplifies the tension, making it one of the film’s stronger aspects. The use of practical effects for the red-faced demon is also a welcome nod to the series’ roots.

Ultimately, Insidious: The Red Door is a film that will likely appeal more to die-hard fans of the franchise than to general horror audiences. Its attempts at emotional depth and supernatural terror are commendable but ultimately fall short due to pacing issues, underdeveloped characters, and a reliance on franchise lore.

For those looking for a genuinely chilling descent into the Further, The Red Door may not be the film you’re hoping for.