Movie review: Insidious: The Red Door

It’s been 10 years since Lee Whannell created a universe that opened up a portal into The Further. There’s been a further three instalments since then to expand on the disturbing journey which has seen The Lamberts face untold evil beyond the realms of our known realm; we’ve shared the pains of loveable medium Elise (Lyn Shaye) and her struggles to rid the torment of the lady in black; and the goofy sidekicks, Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson) to supply the chuckles amongst the sinister and creepy paranormal events that unfold.

Where there has been ups and downs in the franchise so far, straying deeper into the world in order to flesh out and lure audiences back into the fold, arguably the creative have struggled to recapture the initial vision set out by Whannell combined with the directorial eye of James Wan.

The horror genre has always been one for experimentation though and often has provided a vessel for those to try out new things in order to create or spark the imagination, so when the news came that there would be a fifth instalment, it didn’t come with groans or grimaces as it not only posed the question of what happened to the Lamberts following attempts to suppress the memories of patriarchal figure, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins), but it also offers Wilson the opportunity to sit in the Director’s chair. Wilson is ripe with experience before the lens, and has been as close to the source material throughout the past years, so is in prime position to carry the lantern back into The Further once more.

The premise is something of a double-edged sword however, as there was so much balance placed on the Lambert’s upheaval and band-aid solution to sealing up The Further from their lives, that it is inevitable when returning to this world that there will need to be a shift in equilibrium. 

Whannell returns once more to helm writing duties alongside his creative partner Scott Teems to weave a story that examines what happens when we repress our emotions and in this case the connection to astral projections. We learn that Josh’s mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey) has passed on, along with some secrets that she thought she had taken to the grave; and Josh and Renai (Rose Byrne) have separated, which is a little predictable, but also inevitable when repression has been forced and skeletons welded in the closet, or behind the red door. With the relationship strained, so too has Josh and his son Dalton. What once was a bond united by their paranormal abilities, has been severed along with their binding. The impact that this has takes its toll and seeps to the surface at a key point in Dalton’s life; leaving the family home to go to University.

As Dalton tries to find himself in his art studies, unlocking the very thing that has been kept at bay, Josh goes in search for the reason his world has been turned upside down, and the reason behind his foggy mind. Both these pursuits will take them on a dangerous turn, that could take them on a descent from which not only will contain their souls but will come at the cost of those they hold dear.

The Prognosis:

While there is still promise contained within the world of The Further, this could be one step too far for the Lamberts. There is a decent plot at hand, crafted by Patrick Wilson for his feature length directorial debut and Whannel offers another venture into the world with his penmanship.

On face value, it works, but delve a little deeper and you soon realise it lacks the chemistry of the first film. The absence of Wan is noticeable, and the humour is a little too forced in places. Without the heart and soul of what initially drew us to Insidious, we’re left stumbling around in the dark, waiting for someone to flick on the corpse light and lead us back home.

• Saul Muerte

Insidious: The Red Door is currently screening at cinemas nationwide.