Insidious: The Red Door is the fifth installment in the Insidious franchise but within the chronological timeline, falls after the events of the second movie (Insidious: Chapter 2). It is directed by and stars Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring) with a screenplay by Scott Teems, who also composed the story alongside writer Leigh Whannell (Saw). Insidious: The Red Door also stars Ty Simpkins (Jurassic World), Rose Byrne (Bridesmaids), Sinclair Daniel (Bull), Andrew Astor (The Hangover), Hiam Abbass (Succession), Peter Dager (Who Invited Charlie?), and Lin Shaye (Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman).
In the movie, Josh (Wilson) and Dalton (Simpkins) are dealing with the aftereffects of having their memories wiped in order to forget the events in “The Further.” However, their personal lives and their relationship with each other are crumbling because of having this process done. In order to get past this and save the lives of their loved ones, they must face their personal and physical demons head on. Will they be able to salvage their own father-son relationship? Will they lose their lives in The Further if they end up where they promised they would never return? Is this one giant daddy-issue dilemma? Partially yes, but there are some great scenes to be had on this paternal journey.
While this is the fifth movie in the franchise, it isn’t completely necessary that audiences watch all of the previous films. Some basic knowledge of the Insidious universe would be helpful but there are enough flashbacks and context that newcomers to the series won’t be completely lost.
Both Wilson and Simpkins do an amazing job portraying their characters as tortured and haunted, both literally and figuratively. Even if viewers aren’t a fan of Dalton’s brooding personality, they can root for his almost-roommate, Chris (Daniel). While she may be a bit of a Mary Sue/Manic Pixie Dream Girl, her effervescent personality is a welcome bright lantern in an otherwise dark plot.
When looking at a film like Insidious: The Red Door, certain things need to be kept in mind. Does it add to the series or is it merely rehashing the same old story? What expectations are there of the genre? This film has a new moral to teach, a more complex problem to solve, and new characters to worry about. If audiences are expecting to be scared for a while, they will be disappointed. While it might not leave everyone with a creeping feeling of dread when they go home, the jump scares are effective.
It is said that horror flicks are simply our favorite characters making bad decisions. With this in mind, as long as the writers, director, and actors collectively create characters that the audience can root for, viewers will forgive missteps and can suspend their disbelief enough to enjoy a film while stuffing their faces with popcorn—or spilling it during perfectly timed thrills. Those who have enjoyed the series so far, will continue to be invested in the Lambert family.
Not all movies need to be watched on a big screen. Some are plot-driven with deep character development, while others are a more cinematic experience that benefit from the immersion and large theatrics that, well, only a theater can provide. Do moviegoers need to watch Insidious: The Red Door in the theater? No. Will audiences benefit from it? Yes. While the special effects are decent and the setting of the college campus is nice, these things aren’t particularly notable. The benefit of watching this particular movie in a theater is the experience of enjoying it with a crowd and the captivation and engagement that happens with surround sound and a large screen.
