Insidious: The Red Door - The Final Chapter of the Lambert Family's Horror Story

Are you a fan of the Insidious franchise? If so, you’re likely eagerly anticipating the release of the fifth and final installment, Insidious: The Red Door, which is set to stir things up on July 7, 2023. Directed by Patrick Wilson, who also stars as Josh Lambert, this film follows the Lambert family as they face their ultimate challenge—to end the curse that has haunted them for a decade.

In this blog post, we’ll provide an in-depth overview of everything you need to know about Insidious: The Red Door. From the plot to the cast and crew, the reviews, and the release date, we’ll cover it all. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the series, this blog post will help you prepare for the thrilling conclusion of the Insidious saga.

Table of Contents

What is Insidious: The Red Door About?

Taking place ten years after the events of Insidious: Chapter 2, the story revolves around Josh and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins), both of whom possess the ability to astral project into the Further. In an attempt to erase their memories of the evil spirits that once tried to possess them, they made a fateful decision. However, their past comes back to haunt them when Dalton begins experiencing nightmares about a mysterious red door. This door leads to various portals and lairs inhabited by demonic forces seeking to claim their souls. To end the haunting and put the demons to rest, Josh and Dalton must confront their fears by returning to the Further once again.

The film also features flashbacks to Josh’s childhood, when he discovered his ability and met Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), a psychic who helped him escape from the clutches of a sinister entity known as the Bride in Black. Through these flashbacks, more secrets about Josh’s family history and his connection to the Further are revealed.

The Cast and Crew of Insidious: The Red Door

Insidious: The Red Door marks Patrick Wilson’s directorial debut. Having starred in all four previous films as Josh Lambert, Wilson takes on a new role behind the camera. Joining him are Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert, Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert, Andrew Astor as Cultivate Lambert, and Lin Shaye as Elise Rainier. These cast members reprise their roles from the initial two movies. The film also introduces new additions to the cast, including Hiam Abbass, Sinclair Daniel, Peter Dager, and Jarquez McClendon in undisclosed roles.

Reviews of Insidious: The Red Door

Insidious: The Red Door is the fifth and final installment of the horror franchise that started in 2010. The film, directed by Patrick Wilson, who also stars as Josh Lambert, follows a new murder mystery at a wedding that involves Josh and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins), who have both forgotten their past encounters with the spirit world.

The film has received mixed to negative reviews from critics. They have criticized its lack of originality, scares, and coherence. Some of the main points and opinions from the reviews are:

The film tries to explore themes of family, trauma, and repression, but fails to deliver a compelling or meaningful story.
The film relies on cheap jump scares and clichés, instead of building tension and atmosphere with effective camera work and sound design.
The film wastes the potential of its cast, especially Rose Byrne, who has a minor role as Josh’s ex-wife Renai.
The film introduces new film genres and visual styles to depict the different perspectives of the suspects, but they feel gimmicky and inconsistent.
The film does not offer a satisfying conclusion to the franchise, and leaves many questions unanswered.

Let’s have look at Some of the positive aspects of the film:

The film has some humorous moments and references to previous films in the series.
The film has some decent performances from Wilson, Simpkins, and Tiffany Haddish as Detective Danner.
The film has some creative and creepy designs for the entities of The Further, the netherworld where the spirits reside.
Overall, Insidious: The Red Door is a disappointing end to a franchise that started with promise, but lost its way over time. It is a shoddy horror sequel that fails to scare or entertain.

Release Date and Details

Insidious: The Red Door was released in theaters on July 7, 2023, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. Originally planned for 2022, the film was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but was completed in time for its new release date. The movie has a runtime of 107 minutes and will be available in standard format, as well as IMAX and Dolby Cinema.

Watch the Trailer

To watch the trailer of Insidious: The Red Door, visit Sony Pictures Entertainment’s YouTube Channel. The channel features two trailers: the official trailer and the final trailer. These trailers provide a glimpse of the plot, characters, scares, and atmosphere of the film. Familiar faces and voices from the previous films, such as Elise Rainier, the Lipstick-Face Demon, and the Bride in Black, make appearances. The trailers also hint at the significance of the red door and its connection to the Lambert family’s past and future.

INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR – Official Trailer

INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR – Final Trailer

The History of the Insidious Franchise

The Insidious franchise, consisting of supernatural horror films that have captivated audiences since 2010, reaches its climax with Insidious: The Red Door. The franchise was created by Leigh Whannell and James Wan, who have previously collaborated on other notable horror films like Saw (2004) and The Conjuring (2013).

The first film, Insidious, released in 2010, introduced audiences to the Lambert family. Their son Dalton fell into a coma after an accident, but they soon discovered he was trapped in the dark realm of the Further. In the Further, he was pursued by a demonic entity known as the Lipstick-Face Demon. With the help of psychic Elise Rainier, they managed to rescue Dalton, but not without sacrifices.

Insidious: Chapter 2, released in 2013, continued the Lambert family’s story. Moving into Josh’s mother’s house after Elise’s death, they discovered Josh’s connection to the Bride in Black, another malevolent entity. With the assistance of Specs and Tucker, Elise’s colleagues, they freed Josh from the Bride in Black’s control, leading to a climactic confrontation with their past selves.

Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) served as a prequel to the first two films, delving into Elise Rainier’s backstory and her initial encounters with Specs and Tucker. The film focused on Elise’s attempt to help Quinn Brenner, a young girl stalked by the Man Who Can’t Breathe, a ghostly figure. Elise had to overcome her own fears and enter the Further once again to save Quinn.

Insidious: The Last Key (2018) acted as another prequel, exploring Elise’s childhood and her first encounter with the Further. The film introduced Elise’s estranged brother Christian and his daughters, Imogen and Melissa. Elise returned to her childhood home, where she confronted her traumatic past and encountered the Key Face, a ghostly figure capable of manipulating abilities and memories.

Insidious: The Red Door is set to conclude the franchise by serving as a direct sequel to the first two films. It will take audiences on Josh and Dalton Lambert’s final journey into the Further as they confront their inner demons.

Conclusion

Insidious: The Red Door is the highly anticipated fifth and final installment of the Insidious franchise. Directed by Patrick Wilson, the film promises to deliver a satisfying conclusion to the Lambert family’s haunting saga while exploring new dimensions of the Further. With positive reviews from critics and fans, Insidious: The Red Door is poised to captivate audiences with its blend of family drama and supernatural horror.

FAQs

Do I need to watch the previous films before watching Insidious: The Red Door?

It is recommended that you watch at least Insidious and Insidious: Chapter 2 before watching Insidious: The Red Door, as they are directly connected to the plot and characters of the fifth film. You can also watch Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and Insidious: The Last Key (2018), which are prequels that focus on Elise Rainier’s backstory and cases.

What is the Further?

The Further is a dark dimension that exists beyond our physical world. It is inhabited by restless spirits, some of whom are benevolent and some of whom are malevolent. The Further can be accessed by people who have the ability to astral project, or by using certain devices or rituals.

What is the red door?

The red door is a location in the Further that serves as the entrance to various portals and lairs of the main antagonists of the films. It first appeared in Insidious, when Dalton Lambert entered it and was captured by the Lipstick-Face Demon. It later appeared in Insidious: Chapter 2, when Josh Lambert entered it and encountered the Bride in Black. It is also the title of the fifth film, which implies that it will play a significant role in the story.

Who are the main antagonists of the films?

The main antagonists of the films are:
The Lipstick-Face Demon: A red-faced creature with black eyes and sharp teeth that lives in a lair full of puppets and dolls. He tried to possess Dalton Lambert in Insidious.
The Bride in Black: A ghost of an old woman who wears a black wedding dress and veil. She was once a serial killer who killed her husband and his brides. She possessed Josh Lambert as a child and tried to do so again in Insidious: Chapter 2.
The Man Who Can’t Breathe: A ghost of an old man who wears an oxygen mask and lives in a hospital room. He tried to possess Quinn Brenner, a young girl who contacted Elise Rainier for help, in Insidious: Chapter 3.
Key Face: A ghost of a man who has keys for fingers and can lock or unlock people’s abilities or memories. He tried to trap Elise Rainier and her nieces in his prison realm in Insidious: The Last Key.

Will there be more Insidious films after Insidious: The Red Door?

Insidious: The Red Door is intended to be the final film of the franchise, as it wraps up the story of the Lambert family. However, there is always a possibility that the franchise could continue with spin-offs or prequels that explore other aspects of the Further or other characters. Producer Jason Blum has also expressed interest in a crossover with Sinister, another horror franchise produced by his company Blumhouse Productions.

Insidious: The Red Door – The Final Chapter of the Lambert Family’s Horror Story