Insidious The Red Door Review: A Passable Haunt

This latest installment of the Insidious series, directed by Patrick Wilson himself, breathes some life into the saga, invoking a sense of nostalgic delight and presenting a mesmerizing blend of old-school horror and psychological depth. While the film certainly delivers on some of its promises, it often falters in its execution. Nevertheless, “The Red Door” conjures moments of eerie delight and maintains the franchise’s signature style, making it a decent addition to the Insidious universe.

Returning to the roots that made the franchise a genre favorite, “Insidious: The Red Door” revisits the Lambert family after the events of “Insidious Chapter 2,” delivering closure and revisiting the spine-tingling atmosphere that fans have come to love. Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Dalton (Ty Simpkins), father and son, find themselves entangled in a web of forgotten memories due to hypnotic suggestion. However, as Dalton embarks on his college journey, unsettling visions and spectral encounters plunge him and his father into a race against supernatural forces desperate to uncover their darkest secrets.

The film’s highlight lies in the performances of Wilson and Simpkins. Wilson, a familiar face in the franchise, brings his usual gravitas to the role, injecting depth and emotional resonance into the fractured relationship between father and son. Simpkins impresses as the troubled Dalton, capturing the character’s internal struggles with authenticity. Their chemistry grounds the narrative and lends it a compelling core. Wilson’s directorial debut is a worthy tribute to the franchise’s eerie charm as well.

Stylistically, “The Red Door” adheres to the franchise’s trademark atmosphere of dread, blending psychological horror with glimpses of the paranormal. The film relies less on cheap jump scares and more on slow-building tension, channeling the spirit of classic haunted house tales. It succeeds in creating an eerie ambiance, but the scares often feel predictable and lacking in genuine surprise. It becomes evident that the film relies heavily on established tropes rather than taking risks to truly innovate within the genre.

Compared to its predecessors, “The Red Door” falls somewhat short though. While it attempts to recapture the spirit of the earlier films, it struggles to carve out its own identity. The plot often meanders, with pacing issues that hinder the overall impact. The narrative occasionally relies on contrived moments, undermining the potential for deeper exploration of buried trauma. However, fans of the franchise will appreciate the return to familiar characters and the sense of closure offered to the Lambert family’s story.

“Insidious: The Red Door” is a decent entry in the Insidious franchise, offering intermittent moments of eerie delight while maintaining the series’ established style. However, the film’s reliance on predictable scares and its failure to truly push the boundaries of the genre hinder its potential. While it falls short of reaching the heights of its predecessors, “The Red Door” remains a passable haunt that will satisfy devoted fans.

RATING: 3.0 out of 5.

Insidious: The Red Door is now playing in theaters.