movie reviews insidious the red door

Insidious: The Red Door

At least Patrick Wilson still cares about “ Insidious.” A staple of the James Wan-iverse (he also stars in the “Conjuring” series), Wilson makes his directorial debut with “Insidious: The Red Door.” He also stars in the movie, reprising his role as protective dad Josh Lambert from “ Insidious ” and “Insidious: Chapter Two.” In classic “why the hell not?” deep-franchise style, he also performs a hard-rock number with the Swedish band Ghost over the end credits. (Did you know Patrick Wilson could sing? Neither did I.) 

“The Red Door” is the fifth, and supposedly final, “Insidious” movie. And, with the caveat that you can never trust a horror franchise to end when it says it will end, it does deliver a reasonably satisfying wrap-up to the story of the Lambert family. They’ve been absent from “Insidious” since 2013, when Blumhouse pivoted to focus on Lin Shaye ’s motherly psychic character Elise Rainier in a string of prequels. (Although she died in the second one, she appears here, because again—why not?) And much has happened while the series was away. 

Young Dalton Lambert ( Ty Simpkins ) has grown from a possessed little boy into a brooding 19-year-old art student beginning his first semester of college. His parents, Josh (Wilson) and Renai ( Rose Byrne ), have separated. And his grandmother Lorraine, who played a role in saving Dalton from the evil spirits of The Further, has died. Dalton doesn’t remember his trip into The Further, nor does Josh; the film opens with a scene of the two of them being instructed to forget an entire year of their lives by a hypnotist. 

This is accomplished remarkably quickly—if “The Red Door” was an anti-drug PSA, its tagline would be, “Hypnosis: Not even once.” Counting backward from 10 is all it takes to wipe huge chunks of the Lamberts’ minds clean, and those memories resurface just as easily when Dalton is asked to perform a meditation exercise in his painting class. “The Red Door” plays a little with the trope of artists creating possessed or otherwise supernatural works as seen in horror movies like “The Devil’s Candy.” But most of its runtime is spent exploring something less inspired. 

Here, Josh and Dalton’s gift for astral projection isn’t just a mysterious phenomenon. It’s that old saw of inherited trauma and mental illness that’s been wreaking havoc on horror movies since “ Hereditary .” This manifests in the form of revelations about the father Josh never knew, which overlap with Josh’s guilt and Dalton’s resentment about the divorce. It’s not the most labored use of the metaphor in recent years—that would be another of co-screenwriter Scott Teems ’ credits, the nonsensical “ Halloween Kills .” But it’s such a rote theme at this point that it sucks all of the interest from the family drama.

Callbacks to other “Insidious” films are half-hearted, and “The Red Door” seems to give up on trying to make all of the pieces fit after a while. What does work are a handful of scares in the film’s first half. As a director, Wilson proves himself familiar enough with the mechanics of a jump scare—clearly, he picked up a few things from working with Wan all those years—to give audiences what they want. An early scene where Josh hallucinates a ghastly old woman while trapped inside an MRI machine is especially well done and ties in with a subplot where Josh seeks treatment for persistent fatigue and brain fog. (Long COVID? Nope, The Further!)

However, once the college-centric main plot kicks in, the movie slowly declines toward an underwhelming finale. Visually, Wilson faithfully re-creates the misty look of the previous films. Tiny Tim ’s “Tiptoe Through the Tulips” warbles in a room full of broken dolls somewhere in the negative space of The Further. This is all fine—as are the jokes, the supporting characters, and the concessions to the film’s PG-13 rating by replacing explicit gore with fake vomit and pancake makeup. Wilson is pretty good as Josh, but that’s to be expected. He’s the one that’s still invested in the whole thing. 

Now playing in theaters. 

Katie Rife is a freelance writer and critic based in Chicago with a speciality in genre cinema. She worked as the News Editor of  The A.V. Club  from 2014-2019, and as Senior Editor of that site from 2019-2022. She currently writes about film for outlets like  Vulture, Rolling Stone, Indiewire, Polygon , and  RogerEbert.com.

• Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert
• Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert
• Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert
• Lin Shaye as Elise
• Andrew Astor as Foster Lambert
• Hiam Abbass as
• Sinclair Daniel as
• Peter Dager as
• Leigh Whannell as Specs
• Angus Sampson as Tucker

Cinematographer

• Autumn Eakin
• Joseph Bishara

Writer (based on characters created by)

• Leigh Whannell

Writer (story by)

• Patrick Wilson
• Scott Teems

Leave a comment

Now playing.

You Gotta Believe

The Becomers

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

Between the Temples

Blink Twice

Strange Darling

Close Your Eyes

Latest articles.

Prime Video’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” is the Boldest Fantasy Show of the Year

“EA Sports College Football 25” is a True Sports Game Phenomenon

Venice Film Festival 2024: Prepping for the Biennale

Locarno Film Festival 2024: Wrap-Up of a Special Event

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

‘Insidious: The Red Door’ Review: The Ghost of Jump Scares Past

Patrick Wilson makes his directorial debut with this fifth installment of the horror franchise haunted by a red-faced demon.

By Jason Zinoman

“Insidious,” whose fifth installment opened Friday, is a second-tier horror franchise — it’s not even the best James Wan franchise starring Patrick Wilson, which would be “The Conjuring” — with a few elite jump scares, including one of the best in the genre. In the original in 2010, Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey) is telling her son, Josh (Wilson), about a horrible dream when a red-faced demon suddenly appears behind his head. It’s a magnificent shock because of the askew blocking, the patient misdirection of the editing and Hershey’s committed performance.

In “Insidious: The Red Door,” a grim, workmanlike effort that collapses into woo-woo nonsense, Wilson makes his directorial debut, and demonstrates he grasps the importance of that jump scare, which is sketched in charcoal on paper next to his name in the opening credits. But that reference is also a reminder of what’s missing.

The movie begins nine years after the second “Insidious” at the funeral of Lorraine, and its first scare, a nicely oblique if relatively simple one, once again takes place above her son’s head. Josh’s memory has been scrubbed in the previous film but nags at him, and Wilson doesn’t move the camera from his own face inside a car as he goes through an array of emotions while texting his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins). This prickly relationship is at the center of the movie, as dad drives his son to college. They share the family curse, a habit of being visited by evil figures from another realm called the Further (think the Upside Down from “Stranger Things” ).

As has become cliché, trauma takes center stage, with characters mouthing lines like, “We need to remember even the things that hurt” — which is at least better than pretentious small talk like “Death floods the mind with memory.”

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 74% Blink Twice Link to Blink Twice
• 96% Strange Darling Link to Strange Darling
• 86% Between the Temples Link to Between the Temples

New TV Tonight

• 96% Only Murders in the Building: Season 4
• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 83% City of God: The Fight Rages On: Season 1
• -- Kaos: Season 1
• -- Here Come the Irish: Season 1
• -- Terminator Zero: Season 1
• -- Horror's Greatest: Season 1
• -- After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 100% Dark Winds: Season 2
• 92% Bad Monkey: Season 1
• 33% The Accident: Season 1
• 100% Pachinko: Season 2
• 78% Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• 96% Industry: Season 3
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 85% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2 Link to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Disney: 100 Years, 100 Essential Movies

Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

LotR: The Rings of Power: Season 2 First Reviews: A Darker, Bolder, and More Complex Story in Every Way

2024 Fall Horror Preview

• Trending on RT
• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• Rings of Power S2 First Reviews
• Venice Film Festival
• Fall Horror Movie Preview

Insidious: The Red Door Reviews

While the rate of scares still isn’t as consistent, it’s important to remember that “Insidious: The Red Door” is less your traditional horror fare than a tragic tale of the consequences of compartmentalizing trauma.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Jul 9, 2024

it’s all down to Wilson and Simpkins who bring a wealth of onscreen history together to a father/son story that culminates in a deceptively simple resolution that tugs mightily at the heartstrings. Yes, it’s a trauma movie, but it’s one of the good ones.

Full Review | Jul 3, 2024

It still feels like a satisfying conclusion to a series of films that have continuously terrified us for over a decade. That alone is worth remembering.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Mar 6, 2024

Similar to Wan’s The Conjuring universe, Insidious has long overstayed its welcome, reaching the point where its spark has quelled and there’s nothing interesting buried within these characters anymore. We have reached the end of the Further.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Nov 17, 2023

The set-up was great, but the Insidious series has lost a lot of its luster.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Nov 11, 2023

Lamentably, this unusual study of family trauma and memory loss gradually loses its shine and capacity to scare. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Oct 5, 2023

The fact The Red Door works best as a family drama rather than a terrifying scare-fest -- to the extent that when the finale takes another trip into the Further is almost feels tacked on -- tells you it’s time to close the door on the franchise.

Full Review | Aug 24, 2023

This latest anemic attempt at a creepy film is tripped up by a fragmented story and lackluster efforts to pass off things that jump out of the dark to an amped up musical track as being scary.

Full Review | Original Score: D | Aug 9, 2023

Earlier franchise chapters featured a few smirkworthy scares and some stylish filmmaking flourishes, but The Red Door is merely an inert, boring drag.

Full Review | Aug 8, 2023

Wilson shows he can conjure (tee hee) some worthwhile bumps in the night as a filmmaker, and it will be interesting to see what he tackles next.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 4, 2023

Wilson makes his directorial debut with this film that is nice enough in an anaemic way.

Full Review | Aug 3, 2023

Insidious: The Red Door doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessors. It tantalizes us with a few effective scares, but its pacing and character development fall short.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 2, 2023

Patrick Wilson lands some cool shots and Hiam Abass is a welcome reprieve to predictable storylines and tropes. There is a tangible gap in what might have been achieved if the red door opened through expectations.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 1, 2023

Akin to Child's Play 3, Insidious: The Red Door sees grown-up protagonists facing old fears. Despite some flat moments, it's an interesting final chapter.

Patrick Wilson shows some promise for directing and delivers some genuinely well-crafted scares. Unfortunately, the story that spends most of its runtime uncovering events the audience already knows just shows the franchise shouln't have gone further.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.75/5 | Jul 27, 2023

A disappointing entry that, sadly, spends more time recapping the previous films instead of carving its own path.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Jul 24, 2023

Insidious: The Red Door plays it safe and takes it a bit too slow, but it's good performances and nostalgic scares make it worth the viewing.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 24, 2023

This isn't a meaningful exploration of trauma's lingering impact, the current genre go-to, as much as it wants to be.

Full Review | Jul 22, 2023

The fifth Insidious movie starts strong, with fresh character touches and chilling, eerily quiet moments, but it eventually suffers from a sequel's usual diminishing returns.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 21, 2023

While not as good as some of the film in the Insidious franchise this does more than enough to suggest that Patrick Wilson has what it takes to be a decent genre director.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Jul 21, 2023

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘insidious: the red door’ review: patrick wilson directs a desultory entry in the hit franchise.

Wilson helms and stars in this fifth installment, a sequel to 2013's 'Insidious: Chapter 2.'

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Send an Email
• Show additional share options
• Share on LinkedIn
• Share on Pinterest
• Share on Reddit
• Share on Tumblr
• Share on Whats App
• Print the Article
• Post a Comment

Related Stories

Robert de niro, bobby cannavale butt heads while caring for autistic child in 'ezra' trailer, kieran culkin tells his wife he wants more kids while accepting best actor emmy: "you said maybe if i win", insidious: the red door.

But things are not okay for the emotionally adrift Josh, who’s mourning the loss of his marriage, and his teenage son Dalton (Ty Simpkins, reprising his role from the first two films), with whom he has a strained relationship. In an effort to patch things up, Josh — who along with Dalton has had his horrific memories of his past experiences repressed by a handy dose of hypnotherapy — offers to drive his son to college, where he’s beginning his freshman year.

It doesn’t go well, with the sullen teenager resistant to his father’s attempts at camaraderie, which include encouraging him to attend a frat party. Things improve marginally, for both Dalton and the film, with the arrival of Chris (Sinclair Daniel), a wittily lively young woman who’s been mistakenly assigned to be his roommate. She becomes Dalton’s friend and confidant, which is no easy task because he doesn’t exactly have a sparkling personality.

Scott Teems’ screenplay, based on a story by him and series co-creator Leigh Whannell (who returns for a cameo as the geeky Specs), attempts to infuse the spooky proceedings with drama revolving around Josh’s lingering guilt and revelations about the father he never knew, who’s now apparently haunting him. But none of it has much impact, despite Wilson’s best efforts to provide character-driven texture.

Series fans will enjoy the reappearances of many characters from the other films, including Lin Shaye ’s psychic (she died in a previous installment, but death is no impediment to cameos in films like this), although it’s unfortunate that the always-welcome Byrne is relegated to a minor role. Even Wilson receives less screen time than Simpkins, who is forced to carry the film despite the burden of his character being a real bummer. Fortunately, there’s Daniel, who provides some much-needed comic juice to the otherwise desultory goings-on, and Hiam Abbass ( Succession ), projecting her usual authority as Dalton’s art professor.

Patrick Wilson fans familiar with his terrific musical theater turns in such Broadway shows as The Full Monty and Oklahoma! will want to stick around for the end credits, featuring his vocals on a heavy metal song with the Swedish rock band Ghost.

Full credits

Thr newsletters.

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Jenna ortega hits the red carpet for ‘beetlejuice beetlejuice’ premiere in venice, ‘beetlejuice beetlejuice’ slays at venice premiere, lupita nyong’o remembers chadwick boseman four years after his death: “grief never ends”, netflix nabs angelina jolie’s ‘maria’ ahead of venice bow, venice film festival kicks off with ‘beetlejuice beetlejuice’ premiere, tribute to sigourney weaver, next generation of talent converges at venice immersive.

Insidious: The Red Door Review

07 Jul 2023

Insidious: The Red Door

After two prequels, the  Insidious  series returns to the family where it began, the Lamberts, because no good monster ever stays dead. Franchise star Patrick Wilson turns director here and does as good a job as you’d hope with the character beats of these tortured souls. But he never hits the heights of terror that the franchise is capable of – perhaps his closeness to the character preventing him from really twisting the knife.

As we rejoin the Lamberts, we’re reminded that son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and father Josh (Wilson) had their memories wiped nine years ago, so they would never again be tempted to astral-project into “The Further” and leave their bodies vulnerable to possession by dark forces. Now Dalton is an artist just starting at a college with worryingly dim lighting and unreliable power – uh oh.  When he follows a charismatic teacher's instructions to go deep into his subconscious, he discovers memories of a strange door that threaten to destabilise his mental health. Across the country, Josh is experiencing his own nightmares, and will have to delve into his own past to confront this new threat.

While there are a few effective gross-out moments and creeping scares, they’re largely unoriginal.

Wilson picked a franchise he knows well for his directorial debut, and he and Simpkins have a convincingly thorny but loving dynamic, as he does with Rose Byrne as his now-ex-wife Renai. He also finds comic beats to leaven the scares, particularly in some amusingly lame frat party scenes. There he has an ally in Dalton's college friend Chris (Sinclair Daniel), who is a breath of fresh air even if she implausibly sticks around through some outrageously creepy behaviour.

The problem is the choppy storytelling. You’ll need to remember the first two films for any real explanation of the threat here, or how to beat it. Going into the finale, there’s only a woolly sense of what needs to be done and what exactly is tormenting our heroes, which can’t help but puncture the menace. The pace is very much a slow burn, until a sudden rush to the finish, and while there are a few effective gross-out moments and creeping scares, they’re largely unoriginal. Wilson’s debut is no disaster, but he’ll need to sharpen his talons if he wants to make his mark on the horror pantheon behind the camera as well as in front.

Related Articles

Movies | 07 06 2023

Movies | 06 06 2023

Movies | 19 04 2023

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Help Kids Build Character Strengths with Quality Media

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Insidious: the red door.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 4 Reviews
• Kids Say 7 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Fifth in ghost franchise underwhelms; violence, language.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Insidious: The Red Door -- the fifth movie in the Insidious horror franchise -- is the direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2 , exploring the hypnotism and memory suppression conducted on Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his now teen son Dalton (Ty Simpkins). Violence…

Why Age 14+?

Jump scares. Moments of peril and panic. Possessed characters stalk and threaten

A use of "f--k," plus a few uses of "s--t," "t-tties," "goddamn," "ass," "bitch,

Brief fake kissing, meant as a distraction. Sex-related dialogue/innuendo ("slap

Drinking at a frat party. Ghost of someone said to have died at a previous party

Any Positive Content?

The lesson seems to be that "forgetting doesn't work; we need to remember, even

The five members of the Lambert family are White, and the focus is on two men. A

Characters are good and likable, but they're also largely troubled people who ar

Violence & Scariness

Jump scares. Moments of peril and panic. Possessed characters stalk and threaten other characters. Woman is choked by ghost, passes out, revived by CPR. Woman thrown against wall. Woman thrown to ground. Ghost jumps through window, chases character through house. Ghost shoves character into a closet, knocks down clothes rod. Characters grabbed by arms, throats. Creepy figures lurk in background. Demonic figures. Blood (handprints, smears, etc.) and/or oozing liquids. Ghost vomits on character's face. A character from the previous movies dies, and others attend the funeral, where death is discussed. Reference to a character dying by suicide. Creepy drawings and artwork.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

A use of "f--k," plus a few uses of "s--t," "t-tties," "goddamn," "ass," "bitch," "hell," "d--k," "damn," "peckerwood," "freakin'," "butt," "crapper." Exclamatory use of "oh God."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Brief fake kissing, meant as a distraction. Sex-related dialogue/innuendo ("slap your salami," "crusty sheets," "we were gonna do it," "I left my brassiere in Nick's room," etc.). A character grabs and drops a box of condoms. Possible nude drawing hangs on wall of art class, seen briefly.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drinking at a frat party. Ghost of someone said to have died at a previous party is seen vomiting in toilet.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

The lesson seems to be that "forgetting doesn't work; we need to remember, even the things that hurt." Admitting and accepting their pain eventually leads characters to what could be a reconciliation for the family.

Diverse Representations

The five members of the Lambert family are White, and the focus is on two men. At Dalton's school, his best friend, Chris (Sinclair Daniel), is Black, and his instructor, Professor Armagan, is played by Palestinian actor Hiam Abbass. Both women are strong and have agency. Black actor E. Roger Mitchell appears as a doctor; many other people of color appear in small roles or in background. Closing credits claim that the movie was made by a diverse cast and crew. A sequence at a frat party includes a White male student giving a speech that borders on hate; it's not received well.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Role Models

Characters are good and likable, but they're also largely troubled people who are struggling to get by and are victimized by evil forces.

Parents need to know that Insidious: The Red Door -- the fifth movie in the Insidious horror franchise -- is the direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2 , exploring the hypnotism and memory suppression conducted on Josh ( Patrick Wilson ) and his now teen son Dalton (Ty Simpkins). Violence includes jump scares, ghost attacks, moments of peril and panic, stalking, threatening, a woman being choked by a ghost, women thrown to the floor or against a wall, arms and throats grabbed, creepy figures, blood, vomit, other oozing liquids, and more. There are also a few instances of sex-related dialogue or innuendo, and a character is shown grabbing a box of condoms. Language includes a use of "f--k," plus a few uses of "s--t," "t-tties," "goddamn," "ass," "bitch," "hell," "d--k," and other words. Teens drink at a frat party, and the ghost of a teen who drank too much vomits into a toilet. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (4)
• Kids say (7)

Based on 4 parent reviews

Such a great addition to the franchise.

What's the story.

In INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR, it's been nine years since the events of Insidious: Chapter 2 , in which young Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and his father, Josh ( Patrick Wilson ), had hypnosis to suppress the memories of their horrific experiences. Dalton has become a sullen teen who's about to head off to art school. And Josh has felt "foggy" ever since the hypnotism, his marriage to Renai ( Rose Byrne ) falling apart and his relationship with Dalton deteriorating. In school, Dalton's art professor ( Hiam Abbass ) encourages him to dig deep for inspiration, and some of the old terrifying entities begin to make themselves known again. With the help of his new college friend Chris (Sinclair Daniel), Dalton discovers that he can "astral project" and starts looking for answers. But, unfortunately, he goes a bit too far, and both father and son wind up inside The Further once more.

Is It Any Good?

The fifth Insidious movie starts strong, with fresh character touches and chilling, eerily quiet moments, but it eventually suffers from a sequel's usual diminishing returns. Making his debut as director, star Wilson brings Insidious: The Red Door back to the Lambert family, whom we last saw in Insidious: Chapter 2 . ( Insidious: Chapter 3 and Insidious: The Last Key were both prequels.) As an actor, Wilson seems interested in the movie's characters and their relationships, which are strained both by their horrific pasts and their suppressed memories. He also has a few nifty ideas for creeping scares, such as one in which he sits in the cab of his truck, or when he plays a "memory game" in his living room, or -- most nail-bitingly -- gets stuck inside an MRI machine. And the addition of Dalton's friend Chris is a delightful burst of silly energy.

But as Dalton and Josh spend more time apart and the plot gets rolling, it starts to feel overly familiar -- and more than a little tired. Even The Further seems far less terrifying than it once did. Wilson's directing career could be promising, but Insidious: The Red Door is a sign that maybe this franchise should close up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Insidious: The Red Door 's violence . How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?

How scary is the movie? What's the appeal of horror movies ?

Do you agree with Dalton when he says that "forgetting doesn't work; we need to remember, even the things that hurt." Why, or why not?

What's the nature of the father-son relationship in this movie? How does it compare to your real-life relationships?

How does this film compare to the four previous movies in the Insidious series?

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 7, 2023
• On DVD or streaming : August 1, 2023
• Cast : Ty Simpkins , Patrick Wilson , Sinclair Daniel
• Director : Patrick Wilson
• Inclusion Information : Female actors, Black actors
• Studios : Screen Gems , Stage 6 Films
• Genre : Horror
• Topics : Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Run time : 107 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : violence, terror, frightening images, strong language and suggestive references
• Last updated : December 6, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

Insidious: Chapter 2

The Conjuring

Evil Dead Rise

Insidious: Chapter 3

Best horror movies, best ghost stories for kids and teens, related topics.

• Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Insidious: The Red Door Review - A Potentially Satisfying Conclusion to a Horror Saga

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Deadpool & Wolverine Deleted Scene Reveals the Fate of Channing Tatum’s Gambit

Longlegs director says sequel to nicolas cage horror film is the easy answer, josh gad now writing spaceballs 2, reveals mel brooks’ reaction to his script.

Insidious: The Red Door is the scariest movie of the summer. While that might not seem like much, considering there have not been as many high-profile horror films so far in summer 2023, it is still a scary good time at the movies for audiences looking for a break from action spectacle. The Insidious franchise is back and better than ever. It, alongside Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and No Hard Feelings , also shows that Sony Pictures is truly taking chances and risks on a wide variety of films for the summer movie season, and it is paying off for them.

The first Insidious was a surprise hit with critics and audiences when it premiered in 2011. The movie, along with the previously released Paranormal Activity franchise, redefined the modern haunting film and helped usher in a new era of supernatural atmospheric horror. It spawned a popular franchise that included one direct sequel and two prequel films. The fifth film in the series, Insidious: The Red Door , is essentially the real Insidious 3 ( Insidious: Chapter 3 itself was actually a prequel to the previous two films) as this film directly follows the events of the first two entries, taking place ten years after the events of Insidious Chapter 2 .

Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and Reani Lambert (Rose Byrne) have now separated, and their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) has now grown and is getting ready to go to college. Due to both Dalton and Josh having had their memories of the previous films wiped from their mind, a gap has been growing between them.

Yet as Dalton begins college, the events of the first two films he has repressed start to come to the surface and begin to haunt both him and his father. The two must return to the dark dimension known as The Further and put an end to an evil that has been haunting their family for longer than even they knew.

A Haunting Where the Drama Is Front and Center

Underneath all the paranormal elements and supernatural haunts, this is a relatable human story about the riff that forms between parent and child as one grows up. The supernatural elements are all seasoning for a story that is all too real for many, as a parent and child find themselves going through as time goes on. Josh and Dalton have grown apart due to the divorce and the multiple repressions fogging up Josh's mind to where he has become distant from everyone. The horror elements are rooted in tangible anxieties the audience can relate to.

It also adds the subtext of repressed trauma, forming a major riff between individuals. While the previous Insidious movies argued that it was best to put these terrible memories in the past and forget them, Insidious: The Red Door builds off that to acknowledge the toxic nature of the thought process.

In the ten years that have passed since the release of Insidious: Chapter 2 , a wider discussion about mental health has begun to take form. This long-awaited sequel justifies its existence by being in conversation with the original films. Instead of repressing terrible memories, it is better to acknowledge them and move forward.

Related: Insidious: Every Type of Demon in the Movies, Explained

Time has been the ultimate benefit of this movie. It also now arrives as the audience who likely saw the first two Insidious movies (which likely was rather young since they were rated PG-13) now are old enough to be close to Dalton's age in the film. While a completely different format, the movie has the same impact as Toy Story 3 or Monsters University in that it is a movie that used the gap in time to its advantage to not only make audiences nostalgic but also tap into the age of the audience who likely grew up with the original entries.

While the previous Insidious prequels might have diluted the brand a bit, the first two films by James Wan were a masterclass in horror. Made all the more impressive by their PG-13 rating, they managed to be terrifying without any of the normal hallmarks of a slasher or a gory torture porn venture. Honestly, if one hasn't gone back and rewatched the first two entries, it can be almost easy to forget just how good they are as terrifying movies but also really effective dramas. It left some pretty big shoes to fill, and luckily Patrick Wilson is more than up for the task .

Patrick Wilson Steps Up to Lead a Great Crew

Wilson himself has worked closely with Wan not just on the previous Insidious movies but also on The Conjuring franchise. He has also worked with some of the most creative filmmakers, from Joel Schumacher on The Phantom of the Opera , Zack Snyder on Watchmen , and Todd Field on Little Children . He has learned from the best and steps into the director's chair easily.

While the movie might overuse the jump scare trick one too many times, it is hard to argue how effective they are and that Wilson knows how to build tension. Even when it is clear what is about to happen, it doesn't make the final scare any less terrifying. Wilson has proven himself as exciting a director as he is an actor (and also a singer as he sings the song over the end credits proving he is a multitalented performer). It will be curious to see what he decides to follow this up with.

Wilson does a great job behind and in front of the camera, as do many of those involved. Ty Simpkins has truly grown up. For audiences who likely remember him as a kid from the first two Insidious movies or even in both Iron Man 3 and Jurassic World , seeing him as a young adult certainly will be shocking and a difficult adjustment.

In what is essentially his first full-time leading role, he easily sheds all expectations anyone might have held from his days as a kid actor. He carries a true sense of pain in his eyes that truly sells the sad, scared, and traumatized person at the center of this story.

Related: Why Insidious Is Scarier Than The Conjuring

The real star of the film is newcomer Sinclair Daniels, who plays Dalton's college roommate and eventually companion on this journey into a heart of darkness. From her first moment on screen, she commands the screen and easily steals the show. As chilling as the atmosphere in the film is and how terrifying it can be, the first thing likely on everyone's mind is who this person is and what else she can be seen in. Hopefully, Insidious: The Red Door is the beginning of a long and exciting career for her.

Insidious: The Red Door does have one major issue, and that is centered around the character of Reani Lambert, played by Rose Bryne . A vital part of the first two films, she is greatly sidelined in this movie. While she is not completely rewritten out of the film like Megan Fox in Transformers: Dark of the Moon or recast like Maria Bello replacing Rachel Weisz in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor , Bryne's lack of screen time is still frustrating.

She factors early on in the beginning and does not return until the end of the movie. While the intention is to clearly focus on the father-son dynamic, it does feel like the mother's role in the story is greatly short-changed, particularly when one considers how important she was in the first two. Her presence is brief, and that is rather frustrating.

A Worthy Conclusion to the Insidious Story

Insidious: The Red Door not only puts the franchise back on track, but it serves as an effective conclusion to the main Lambert trilogy of films while also tying nicely into the two prequel films to make a solid horror saga. It brings a story that started in 2011 to a satisfying conclusion. It might not be as scary as the original , but it gets pretty close.

As with any horror franchise, there will certainly be more (a spin-off film titled Thread: An Insidious Tale is already in development), but if the franchise wanted to end here, it would undoubtedly be a high note to go out on. Insidious: The Red Door will satisfy long-time fans of the franchise and should also scare any newcomers that have decided to join in for a scare.

• Movie and TV Reviews
• insidious: The Red Door (2023)

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’ Review: This Stalled Horror Franchise Comes to a Creaky End

David ehrlich.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

One reason you should be able to jump in easily enough: the film starts with young Dalton (Ty Simpkins) and his dad Josh ( Patrick Wilson ) being hypnotized to forget everything that happened in “Insidious” and “Insidious: Chapter 2,” which effectively puts them on the same page as most of the people in the audience. For another thing, Scott Teems’ script — somehow even thinner than the line separating our world from the monster-filled hellscape that Dalton and Josh access through astral projection, or that it uses to access them — thoroughly flattens the series’ not-so-complicated backstory about “the Further” and Josh’s own childhood. It becomes a flimsy pretense to mass produce the genre’s most overfamiliar tropes about inherited trauma on an assembly line of ultra-telegraphed jump-scares. 

So while it’s pure speculation to suggest that Wilson saw the character-driven conflict behind “The Red Door” as a chance to combine his training with his tastes, it’s like I always say: You can take the boy out of Carnegie Mellon’s Drama program, but you can’t take Carnegie Mellon’s Drama program out of the boy. Indeed, the first act of Wilson’s directorial debut feels more like a hard-nosed grief drama — or at least an Ari Aster movie — than it does the fifth installment of a horror franchise about red-faced demons playing peek-a-boo with Rose Byrne. 

Simpkins plays Dalton as a non-character so vacant it’s hard to tell if he’s haunted or lobotomized, but there’s real pathos behind Josh’s failure to communicate with his son, and the patience Wilson displays with these scenes reflects a deeper interest in what’s really terrifying these people. Sinclair Daniel brings so much pep to her part as Dalton’s roommate that a comedy seems liable to break out any minute, and if not for the mud-brown cinematography that makes every scene look somewhat diseased (for some reason a staple of low-budget studio horror these days), you might almost forget that you’re watching a Blumhouse joint. 

The swirling violins and sudden bangs don’t start until Dalton attends a dopey art class taught by Hiam Abbass, who encourages her students to draw from their subconscious. From that point on, neither of the Lambert men can make it five minutes without astral projecting, as the shared experience brings them closer together even as those pesky demons threaten to tear them apart forever. From the moment Josh is in danger, “The Red Door” is overwhelmed by the feeling that it’s Wilson who’s just trying to get out of this thing alive.

That puts a lot of pressure — way too much — on the horror those phantoms might be able to produce, and though Wilson clearly paid attention to what his directors were doing on the previous “Insidious” movies, the rookie helmer lacks the chops to save this installment with jolts alone. Louder than it is scary, “The Red Door” fumbles its way from one predictable jump to the next, with the setpieces ranging from moderately clever (the MRI sequence plays) to enervatingly flat (a home invasion sequence that apes “It Follows” to negligible effect). By the time Wilson reaches the home stretch he’s running so low on fresh ideas that the movie’s climax offers all the thrill of watching people run around the haunted house at a local carnival. 

The generically (and decidedly PG-13) rent–a-scare horror elements interfere with what “The Red Door” really wants to do, which is to help Josh put an end to the pain cycle that he’s at risk of passing down to his kid. Spread thin between that father-son drama and the jolts intended to galvanize it, Wilson’s creaky debut underdelivers on both. Art is the door to the mind, Dalton’s teacher insists, but this one never opens wide enough to let anything memorable in — or out. 

Most Popular

You may also like.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’ Manages to Find Some New Life in an Aging Horror Franchise

Directed for the first time by star Patrick Wilson, this serves as something of a legacy sequel, digging into the movies’ history.

Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems 'Insidious: The Red Door.' Photo: Boris Martin. © 2023 CTMG, All Rights Reserved.

While it feels a little odd to be calling a horror franchise that kicked off in 2010 ‘venerable’ perhaps the most terrifying element is remembering that that was 13 years ago. ‘ Insidious ’, with its tale of the creepy nether realm known as “The Further” is back to haunt the living after four previous entries.

This time around, Patrick Wilson –– who has played patriarch Josh Lambert since the original –– also steps behind the camera, working from a script by Scott Teems (‘ Halloween Kills ’), who collaborated on the story with original ‘Insidious’ writer Leigh Whannell . The new film is called ' Insidious: The Red Door ' and it opens in theaters on July 7th.

Insidious: The Red Door

What’s the story of ‘Insidious: The Red Door’?

Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems 'Insidious: The Red Door.' Photo: Nicole Rivelli. © 2023 CTMG, All Rights Reserved.

Picking up ten years after the events of the second film, the Lamberts are a fractured family in mourning. Patrick Wilson returns as Josh Lambert, a father struggling with the loss of his mother, Lorraine, and keen to mend the relationship with his oldest son, Dalton (a returning Ty Simpkins ).

He agrees to drive the talented artist to his Ivy League university, hoping the road trip and settling him in will help them reconnect. Things, as you might suspect, don’t go to plan.

At the same time, a psychological trigger revives a past Dalton didn’t even realize he’d forgotten (or, more accurately, had used hypnotized to suppress), and it gradually begins to sneak its dark fingers into his reality, opening a gateway to the nightmarish realm we know so well from past movies in the series.

The gateway is a red door that haunts his Dalton’s art and his dreams, a portal in The Further that Josh and Dalton must unite to close for the sake of their family, past and present…

Who else is in ‘Insidious: The Red Door’?

The cast for the movie also includes Rose Byrne returning as matriarch Renai Lambert, Andrew Astor as son Foster Lambert, and Lin Shaye once more playing parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier (alongside a quick cameo from Whannell and Angus Sampson as her regular tech sidekicks Specs and Tucker).

Outside the veteran cast, we have Sinclair Daniel as Dalton’s college friend Chris and Hiam Abbass as cranky art teacher Professor Armagan.

Related Article: Actor and Director Patrick Wilson Talks 'Insidious: The Red Door'

The direction.

(L to R) Director/Actor Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins on the set of Screen Gems 'Insidious: The Red Door.' Photo: Boris Martin. © 2023 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

‘The Red Door’ marks Wilson’s directorial debut, and it’s a solid start for the actor-turned-shot-caller. Aside from a few early moments that stretch a little too far into wannabe arty, he maintains a solid visual aesthetic that lets the characters do the work, but also wrangles his team to create some effective scary moments.

True, there are the obligatory jump scares, sudden noises thrown on to the soundtrack to evince reactions from the audience, but those are never overused. And Wilson also finds a way to make silence just as effectual when it comes to generating terror.

And coming from a performing background, he’s also able to draw some genuine performances from the cast. Simpkins is initially in sullen teen mode, though it’s an understandable phase given that Dalton’s grandmother has just died, and he still feels the impact from what he and the family went through when he was younger (turns out the hypnosis he and his father underwent didn’t solve all their problems).

And once he starts to dig into the scary visions he’s happening, Dalton comes out of his shell even if he does spend most of the movie looking upset (again, understandably).

Yet while Wilson does good work as Josh, who goes on his own journey to figure out his issues and his connection to The Further, the film is almost stolen in certain scenes by Daniel as Chris Winslow, who meets Dalton when she’s mistakenly assigned as his roommate on the first day of college.

Daniel brings an affably askew energy to the role; Chris becoming a confidante and platonic best pal for Dalton and thankfully doesn’t simply disappear once the scary stuff truly kicks in. While she’s popped up in some TV guest spots, this is the sort of performance that should land Daniel on plenty of casting directors’ lists, such life does she bring to both the part and the movie itself.

Elsewhere, fans of the ‘Insidious’ movies will appreciate nods to previous outings –– this is pretty much a legacy sequel despite only appearing a few years since the last one. Entertainingly taking the family to an even darker, more damaged place, it meditates on familial trauma, fathers and sons and the power of astral projection.

Are there issues in the Further?

The main problems with the movie stem from the familiar beats that begin to kick in as Dalton and his father truly investigate the chunk of memories that has been obscured in their minds. While the writers and crew stage a few inventive variations on dead entities stalking and messing with the living, there are only so many ways this can play out and once we dive back into The Further, things become ridiculously over-stylized and honestly less creepy, not more.

Plus, if you were shouting at the screen that a potential fix for all the problems is staring the characters in the face once Dalton makes one particular move in the story, you’ll likely be disappointed how long it takes them to figure it out.

And while she is in the movie, Rose Byrne gets very little to do until the very end, but at least makes the most of Renai’s limited screen time.

Likewise, Abbass’ Armagan does what she can with the small amount of scenes, one in particular, an abrasive first class with her new students, is a standout. Wilson and Teems might also have found a more effective way to bring those who have somehow chosen to make this the first ‘Insidious’ movie they see up to speed than halting the plot for an exposition dump (even if it is delivered by three familiar, entertaining characters).

A more effective re-visit of a scary story than the more recent ‘ Halloween ’ movies, ‘The Red Door’ serves as a solid final chapter for this story. Though of course, it goes without saying (and we won’t spoil anything) that there are hints for the future after the end credits.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems 'Insidious: The Red Door.' Photo: Courtesy of Screen Gems. © 2023 CTMG, All Rights Reserved.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Insidious: The Red Door':

• ' Insidious ' (2011)
• ‘ Insidious: Chapter 2 ' (2013)
• ' The Conjuring ' (2013)
• ‘ Insidious: Chapter 3 ' (2015)
• ' The Conjuring 2 ' (2016)
• ‘ Insidious: The Last Key ' (2018)
• ' Annabelle Comes Home ' (2019)
• ' The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It ' (2021)

Buy Tickets: 'Insidious: The Red Door' Movie Showtimes

Buy 'insidious' movies on amazon.

'Insidious: The Red Door' is produced by Blumhouse Productions, Stage 6 Films, Screen Gems. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on July 7th, 2023.

Related News

More News on Moviefone

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

‘Insidious: The Red Door’ Review – A Sentimental Swan Song for the Lambert Family

As its title suggests,  Insidious: The Red Door , the fifth entry in the franchise, returns to the Lambert family to close the door on their ongoing saga with The Further. Set a decade after the events of  Insidious: Chapter Two , star Patrick Wilson pulls double duty for this sequel, making his feature debut with a sentimental entry more interested in exploring buried secrets and family trauma than the paranormal. Less a sequel and more a continuation of  Chapter Two ,  The Red Door  gives a tender send-off to the Lamberts.

Flashback scenes from  Chapter Two  catch unfamiliar audiences up to speed; after young Dalton ( Ty Simpkins ) helps dad Josh (Patrick Wilson) escape the Further and return home, the family decides to suppress their memories. The idea, of course, is to prevent future astral projecting into the Further, closing the door on pervading entities hoping to cross into the real world. Harboring secrets of this magnitude hasn’t been kind to the Lambert family, but a death reopens old wounds as Dalton heads off to college. Old secrets refuse to stay buried, and the door to the Further busts wide open. Father and son must reckon with their past if they have any hope for a future.

Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR, Photo credit: Nicole Rivelli

Written by  Scott Teems  and based on a story by  Leigh Whannell ,  The Red Door evolves the Lambert family in an organic, affecting way. Its central thesis hinges on the erosion of family bonds when memories of this scale get suppressed. What happens when some family members, like Renai Lambert ( Rose Byrne ), must carry the burden of such secrets? Wilson ensures that repurposed footage from  Chapter Two  presents a clear picture of Josh’s possession and subsequent attempts to kill his family so  The Red Door  can mine that trauma through the estranged bond between Josh and Dalton. Both separately find themselves on a paranormal journey of self-discovery.

The Red Door is at its most interesting when following Dalton’s explorations of college life as his reawakening connection to the Further pervades. Now a young adult, Dalton’s typical exploration with self-identity out from under his dad’s shadow comes, and college navigation brings terrifying visions vision it. Some stem from his forgotten past, while others bring current nightmares from the Further. Dalton’s newly forged friendship with roommate Chris ( Sinclair Daniel ) breathes life into this more somber feature most of all. Daniel’s lively, more assertive personality brings levity when necessary and helps flesh out Dalton beyond his reserved, aloof artist persona. Conversely, Josh’s past offers little more than a few scares and drawn out questions.

Patrick Wilson in Screen Gems Insidious: The Red Door, Photo credit: Boris Martin

Director Patrick Wilson’s emphasis on family, specifically Josh and Dalton, means the denizens of the Further don’t factor as strongly into the story. Or rather, don’t expect any expansion of lore here. Familiar faces do get brought into the fold, but this is firmly the Lamberts’ story. Wilson does make this franchise entry his own in tone, style, and scares. On the latter, how Wilson toys with sound and tension-building lend unpredictable quality to the scares that render them effectual. But the reliance on Chapter Two footage and a lack of development on the mythology leaves the horror aspect of this story on the underwhelming side.

That it’s so intrinsically tied to  Insidious: Chapter Two , complete with Chapter Two footage flashbacks,  makes it more inaccessible to franchise newcomers than previous entries. Those hoping to learn more about the Lipstick Demon ( Joseph Bishara ) and the darkest corners of the Further may come away disappointed.  The Red Door isn’t interested in the mythology but instead in examining how its ghosts fractured the family and whether their enduring love can make them whole again. Wilson reminds audiences why they fell for the Lambert family in the first place with a sentimental sequel that tenderly bids them farewell. While it doesn’t give a sense of finality to the Further or its ghostly inhabitants, it does offer poignant closure to the protagonists that started it all.

Insidious: The Red Door releases in theaters on July 7, 2023.

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

You may like

Next ‘Insidious’ Movie Releasing in Theaters Summer 2025

David Slade’s ‘Hard Candy’ Subverts the Concept of Predator and Prey [The Lady Killers Podcast]

Stay Home, Watch Horror: Five Horror Movie Prequels to Stream This Week

‘Redux Redux’ – ‘The Block Island Sound’ Filmmakers Directing Multiverse Horror Movie

Kevin & Matthew McManus, the brothers behind The Block Island Sound , have wrapped production on a new horror movie titled Redux Redux , Variety reports this afternoon .

In the upcoming Redux Redux , “Irene Kelly ( Michaela McManus ) travels through the multiverse, killing her daughter’s murderer over and over again.

“She grows addicted to the revenge streak, putting her own humanity in jeopardy.”

Michaela McManus (“The Block Island Sound,” “The Orville”) stars alongside Jim Cummings (“Thunder Road,” “The Wolf of Snow Hollow”), Jeremy Holm (“House of Cards,” “Brooklyn 45”), Taylor Misiak (“Dave”), Grace Van Dien (“Stranger Things”) and Stella Marcus .

Redux Redux is the first movie from the McManus brothers’ Mothership Motion Pictures.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with the entire Mothership team to bring Redux Redux to the big screen,” said the McManus brothers. “We’re thrilled to follow up The Block Island Sound with another genre bender starring our sister in her most violent role yet. We can’t wait to share it with audiences next year.”

‘Milk & Serial’ – New Found Footage Movie Is One of This Year’s Hidden Horror Gems

Art the Clown Takes an Axe to the Full Official Poster for ‘Terrifier 3’!

New ‘Blair Witch Project’ Blu-ray Features First-Ever Restoration from the Hi8 Tapes & 16mm Film Elements!

‘Bambi: The Reckoning’ Sales Poster Welcomes You to the Monster’s Stomping Grounds [Exclusive]

‘Strange Darling’ Review – Cat and Mouse Thriller Has Plenty of Surprises

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Screen Rant

Insidious: the red door.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Your Rating

Patrick wilson, reviews (0).

Have You Watched It?

Be the first to leave a community review!

Ty Simpkins

Hiam abbass, sinclair daniel, andrew astor, seasons (4).

Season 1 (2016)

Season 2 (2018), season 3 (2022), season 4 (2026), users reviews (125).

We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the review below and remember to keep it respectful.

Your comment has not been saved

Latest Stories

$188m horror movie repeats box office success on netflix by reaching #1 just days after debut, why josh & renai got divorced in insidious: the red door, insidious: the red door streaming release date confirmed, $187m horror movie coming to netflix, where to watch insidious 5, related titles.

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

BABY REINDEER

Insidious: The Red Door (2023) - Blu-ray + Digital Review

With only a few exceptions such as Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, The Conjuring, Friday the 13th , and a handful of others, rarely do horror franchises manage to maintain a strong and consistent level of success for more than a couple of installments. The pattern seems to be two or maybe three big hits, then a steep downward spiral into the depths of mediocrity.

Another outlier, though it sagged a wee bit in its middle installments, was the Insidious franchise which bucked the trend of grotesque horror porn in favor of paranormal creeps and crawls which have haunted our dreams since 2008. And no, not even the bold stroke of reuniting the original cast for Insidious: The Red Door , is enough to deliver a satisfying experience.

Even as soon as fifteen minutes in, it becomes clear there’s something missing from this latest visit. This is the first Insidious chapter not written by Leigh Whannell … and it shows. Despite the potential for an intriguing storyline, and the return of Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne , and Andrew Astor , the film succumbs to too many tired clichés and uninspired scares. The result is a lackluster and forgettable experience for audiences.

The Red Door ’s ineffectiveness isn’t necessarily all on director Patrick Wilson . This is Wilson ’s first time in the director’s chair and though he does well enough, he often struggles with the film’s haphazard pacing, and poorly executed transitions that leave us grasping to follow the story’s intentions.

Speaking of the story; Scott Teems writes it, with Whannel getting a minor credit. When we last left the Lambert family, at the end of Chapter 2 , astral projectors, Josh ( Patrick Wilson ), and Dalton ( Ty Simpkins ) were still recovering from multiple trips into The Further, a kind of purgatory dimension inhabited by tortured spirits of the deceased.

In The Red Door , we pick up with Dalton and Josh attempting to get on with their lives. Josh is now divorced from his wife Renai ( Byrne ), and Dalton heads off to an east coast art school where a particularly over-ambitious art teacher encourages Dalton to explore the relationship between light and dark in order to develop his own unique style of art. Big mistake for Dalton to take that literally! There are some really dark things buried inside Dalton’s psyche since being hypnotized to forget what happened to the Lambert family ten years ago.

It’s these aspects which become the main themes explored by Teems ’ script. The value of family, dealing with trauma, understanding the relationship between light, dark, and balance are all seeds that were sown in the first film. Unfortunately those seeds don’t bear fruit in this latest.

Another major letdown with Insidious: The Red Door is the lack of scary moments throughout. The original Insidious film was celebrated for its ability to generate genuine terror and tension, but The Red Door falls way short. Whenever the soundtrack goes silent, that’s when something is going to jump out. Wilson , as a director, clearly hasn’t yet perfected the art of effective atmosphere and well-timed jump scares. Loud noises and shock value aren’t enough.

Sadly, Insidious: The Red Door fails to live up to the legacy of its predecessors. With a convoluted plot, ineffective scares, underdeveloped characters, uninspired performances, lackluster cinematography, and a disappointing conclusion, this film falls flat on nearly every front. It's safe to say that Insidious: The Red Door is a forgettable addition to an otherwise beloved series. It’s time to put these demons to rest.

Home Video Distributor: Sony Pictures Available on Blu-ray - September 26, 2023 Screen Formats: 2.39:1 Subtitles : English SDH; Spanish; French Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French (Canada): DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Insidious: The Red Door creeps and crawls its way onto hi-def with a blu-ray + Digital code edition from Sony Pictures .

The company clearly understands what a stinker it has as evidenced by the lackluster presentation in this single disc edition that comes housed in a cardboard slipcover with a blu-ray disc and a digital redemption code.

Far better than the film itself. The 1080p AVC 2.39:1 picture is actually an excellent one that holds up very well despite the darkness of the many of the film's interior settings. The quality of the transfer in such a dark film as this is always easy to critique and Sony passes the test with a flawless image that is always sharp, crisp and clean even in the outer edges of the pitch-black frames.

These films that take place in dimly lit interiors are also always nice to look at as they make colors pop against the dark backgrounds. And pop they do here. Reds, oranges, and occasional blue-greens are absolutely gorgeous while skin tones remain true-to life. Very nice job!

Horror films are typically very fun to experience on the audio front as well, and this one is no different. Appreciating the difference in sound levels between the film's quieter moments as they lead up to the head-thumping jump scares is a fine art. And Sony passes the test with its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Perfectly audible dialogue is maintained throughout.

Supplements:

Sony comes up short on the supplementals front as the release comes with only a pair of bonus items that look into the history of the franchise and the film's first-time director. Sony lays an egg in this department

Commentary :

Special Features:

• Past, Present, Further
• A Possessed Director

MPAA Rating: PG-13. Runtime: 107 mins Director : Patrick Wilson Writer: Leigh Whannell; Scott Teems Cast: Ty Simpkins; Patrick Wilson; Rose Byrne Genre : Horror Tagline: Face Your Demons. Memorable Movie Quote: Distributor: Columbia Pictures Official Site: Release Date: July 7, 2023 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 26, 2023 Synopsis : The Lamberts must go deeper into The Further than ever before to put their demons to rest once and for all.

New in Theaters/VOD

New on Home Video

• New X-Men Character Posters Released
• First Offical Poster for James Wan's INSIDIOUS
• First Look at X-MEN: FIRST CLASS Cast? UPDATED
• Official Trailer for James Wan's INSIDIOUS
• Little Children - DVD Review

Movie Trailers

• Trailer Watch - Megalopolis (2024)
• Trailer Watch - OUT COME THE WOLVES (2024)
• Trailer Watch - CHARLIE TANGO
• Trailer Watch - SLINGSHOT (2024)
• Trailer Watch - PACHINKO - Season Two

Movie Reviews

Morbidly Hollywood

• Colorado Street Suicide Bridge
• Death of a Princess - The Story of Grace Kelly's Fatal Car Crash
• Joaquin Phoenix 911 Call - River Phoenix - Viper Room
• Screen Legend Elizabeth Taylor Dies at 79
• Suicide and the Hollywood Sign - The Girl Who Jumped from the Hollywood Sign
• The Amityville Horror House
• The Black Dahlia Murder - The Death of Elizabeth Short
• The Death of Actress Jane Russell
• The Death of Brandon Lee
• The Death of Chris Farley
• The Death of Dominique Dunne
• The Death of George Reeves - the Original Superman

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

'Insidious' The Red Door - Interview With Lin Shaye

The moment when 'Insidious' Star Lin Shaye Realized the first movie was going to be a hit.

Get the Reddit app

The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Submissions should be for the purpose of informing or initiating a discussion, not just to entertain readers. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions.

Official Discussion - Insidious: The Red Door [SPOILERS]

If you've seen the film, please rate it at this poll

If you haven't seen the film but would like to see the result of the poll click here

Click here to see the rankings of 2023 films

Click here to see the rankings for every poll done

The Lamberts must go deeper into The Further than ever before to put their demons to rest once and for all.

Patrick Wilson

Leigh Whannell, Scott Teems

Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert

Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert

Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert

Sinclair Daniel as Chris Winslow

Hiam Abbass as Professor Armagan

Andrew Astor as Foster Lambert

-- Rotten Tomatoes: 50%

Metacritic: TBD

VOD: Theaters

By continuing, you agree to our User Agreement and acknowledge that you understand the Privacy Policy .

Enter the 6-digit code from your authenticator app

You’ve set up two-factor authentication for this account.

Enter a 6-digit backup code

Create your username and password.

Reddit is anonymous, so your username is what you’ll go by here. Choose wisely—because once you get a name, you can’t change it.

Reset your password

Enter your email address or username and we’ll send you a link to reset your password

Check your inbox

An email with a link to reset your password was sent to the email address associated with your account

Choose a Reddit account to continue

• Cast & crew

A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.

• Halina Reijn
• Nicole Kidman
• Harris Dickinson
• Antonio Banderas
• 1 nomination

Top cast 38

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

2024 Venice Film Festival Guide

• December 25, 2024 (United States)
• United States
• Netherlands
• New York City, New York, USA (street scenes)
• Man Up Film
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 54 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.