Review of Insidious: The Red Door

Film: Insidious: The Red Door
Director: Patrick Wilson
Screenplay: Scott Teems
Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor, Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass among others
Story: Leigh Whannell and Scott Teems based on characters created by Leigh Whannell.
Rating:3 stars

Director Patrick Wilson’s Insidious:The Red Door hinges on a concept that was showcased to fans of the franchise in an earlier instalment — Astral projection.

That’s right! Astral projection was something that was showcased in the Insidious, which was the first part of the franchise. However, this time astral projection happens again under a different set of circumstances.

Not just that. The original cast of the horror franchise returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga.

Here’s the synopsis before we discuss the film any further…

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson), despite parting ways with his wife Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne), is still on amicable terms with her. The kids stay with Renai but Josh has visitation rights and therefore occasionally gets to take the kids out.

Although he gets to meet the kids who have now grown up, the bond between him and his son Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) seems to be weakening. Try as he might, Josh is unable to break the invisible ice built on mistrust between them.

It is under these circumstances that one day, Josh’s mother passes away. Rose and the kids join Josh at the funeral. Josh, who is trying to get closer to his son, offers to drive Dalton to his college.

Dalton, an art student, reluctantly agrees. Their drive eventually ends in a bitter fight with Josh insisting that Dalton attend a frat party.

But that fight with his father is the least of Dalton’s troubles as he has more serious issues to be concerned about.

A drawing he does in art class by going into his sub-conscious mind has a nerve-wracking effect on him. It does not take long for him to realise that his repressed demons from the past have returned to haunt him!

To put these demons to rest once and for all, Dalton must go deeper into The Further than ever before and he will need the backing of his most-hated family member –his dad — if he has to come out of this one alive!

Patrick Wilson, who was a main part of the earlier films of this franchise, makes his directorial debut through this fifth instalment.

To be fair to him, Patrick does a pretty decent job as director and comes up with a pretty engaging plot, that keeps you on the edge for the most part.

However, the fact that the story again revolves around the concept of Astral projection — wherein one leaves their physical body in the physical world and enters a purgatory dimension called The Further — brings down the level of interest in the plot.

To those watching a film from the Insidious franchise for the first time, this film may come across as a refreshing horror thriller. However, those who have already seen other parts of the franchise may find this film a little less exciting.