INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR (or just Insidious 5) is finally here. Although it is the fifth movie in the franchise, it is effectively a direct continuation of the first two movies. In that sense, it’s more like a trilogy being wrapped up here.
Once again, we follow the Lambert family with mom, dad, and their three kids. Obviously, the children have grown quite a bit older. If you remember the first two movies, it’s not difficult to imagine how the violent experiences could affect the family in the following years. This makes for a deeper and more heart-wrenching story that’s also damn creepy!
With this fifth Insidious movie, we are, as already stated, going back to the Lambert family from the first two movies. After a few detours with the third and fourth movies, it’s all the way back to the original story. The Lambert family was the focal point of Insidious (2010) and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013).
The narrative continues nine years after the events of Insidious 2, so it’s close to being real-time chronology in that sense. This also means that it is a very good idea to re-watch the first two movies before watching this one.
Is it strictly necessary to watch the first two movies again? No, it actually isn’t, as flashbacks from the two movies are shown throughout to make sure we’re all caught up.
However, if you haven’t ever watched the first two movies, you’re missing basic information about the family dynamic. This will definitely take away from understanding everything that happens in Insidious: The Red Door. There is a lot of heartbreak in seeing the little boy as a grown young man, struggling with things he just cannot remember.
And yes, the filmmakers managed to get the cast back together again for this follow-up story. All the actors from the first films are in this movie in some way. And no, that’s not a spoiler, just classic James Wan.
After all, he managed to get both the Jigsaw figure from Saw in the first Insidious movie and the Annabelle doll featured at the bottom of the ocean in Aquaman (2018).
Ty Simpkins stars as Dalton Lambert, while Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne are his parents, Josh and Renai. Also, his younger brother, Foster, continues to be played by Andrew Astor, who also gets a bit more to work with here. Little sister, Kali, was a baby in the first two films and is just in one scene now.
This really is the story of Dalton and his father and the impact the terrible events of the first two movies had on the family. At the end of Insidious 2 (you’ll see it again as the Insidious: The Red Door opening scene), we see how Josh and Dalton Lambert choose to be hypnotized to forget everything that had happened to them.
However, Renai and Foster, who also experienced everything, are now left having to pretend that nothing strange has happened. Renai in particular has to bear a huge burden as the hypnosis affects Josh more than expected. It may sound like “boring” drama but gives a tinge of very relevant PTSD that offers important depth to the story.
In addition, it gives Insidious: The Red Door an extra layer of psychological horror that works amazingly with the otherwise classic paranormal tale. And don’t worry, there are also still grim creatures and brutal jump-scares along the way.
I personally ended up sitting very much back and deep in my seat at least once along the way.
Actor Patrick Wilson has taken the lead on the horror movie this time as director. Insidious: The Red Door is his debut as a director, but you definitely won’t notice that he’s new to directing. In fact, I would very much like Patrick Wilson to continue as a horror director, because he clearly has a very good feel for it.
The story comes from Leigh Whannell, who is essentially the creator of the Insidious franchise and its characters, while James Wan was the director of the first two from the start. Leigh Whannell then wrote and directed Insidious 3.
Leigh Whannell was of course also an actor in several of the films – just as Patrick Wilson has been from the start. The script for Insidious 5 itself comes from Scott Teems, who also wrote Halloween Kills, so he is well-versed in writing new movies in established franchises.
To cover all movies in the franchise, I should mention that the fourth film in the franchise was Insidious: The Last Key directed by Adam Robitel. Still with Leigh Whannell writing it. Both James Wan and Leigh Whannell are (of course!) still on board as producers for this fifth installment.
In every way, this movie is a worthy end to a trilogy. Yes, even though it’s actually the fifth film in the franchise. Now we can look forward to the new Insidious spin-off that has been announced. Until then, make sure you go watch this fifth Insidious movie in your preferred movie theater.
Insidious: The Red Door is out in US movie theaters from July 7, 2023.
