In 2010, Insidious quickly became a new phenomenon in the horror film genre. The film achieved impressive box office success, grossing over $100 million, which is significantly higher than its production cost of $1.5 million.
The success of the film led to ongoing sequels, establishing a global horror brand. After five years, the series returned with its latest installment, Insidious: The Red Door, which is considered one of the most anticipated horror films of the year.
Uninspiring Plot
The storyline takes place 10 years after the events of Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Over the years, the Lambert family has faced many upheavals. Parents Josh (Patrick Wilson) and Renai (Rose Byrne) have divorced, and their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) is now a teenager preparing for college.
Josh and Dalton don’t seem to remember the horrific events of their past. Their relationship has become strained, with many unshared experiences between them.
Patrick Wilson (right) and Ty Simpkins (left) continue their roles as father and son in the film.
One day, Dalton suddenly experiences strange dreams related to a mysterious red door. At the same time, terrifying events continuously unfold around him. It seems that a malevolent spirit is intent on returning to the Lambert household, bringing with it even more horror.
Insidious 5 has a straightforward storyline, unrelated to the fourth film, serving as a sequel to the second installment. As a result, viewers who haven’t watched the previous parts may find it somewhat difficult to grasp the film’s content.
Despite the time difference, the film retains familiar horror tropes that made the first two installments successful. The details about the red door and the ghostly characters are utilized quite conventionally. This aspect tends to diminish the surprise for the audience.
Low Horror Elements
The first two installments of Insidious firmly established James Wan as the “master of horror” in Hollywood. By the third installment, he did not direct but took on a production role. Many critics believe this is the reason the film quality has declined.
This time, directing duties for Insidious 5 have been handed over to someone new – none other than Patrick Wilson himself, marking his directorial debut after over 20 years in the industry.
The horror elements in the film are not captivating. While the director knows how to set up engaging situations to create suspense, the jump scares are still quite predictable and lack creativity, making it difficult for audiences to feel challenged.
The screenplay continues to follow the formula from previous installments, failing to generate any surprising moments. The story unfolds in a straightforward manner, focusing primarily on the father-son relationship between Josh and Dalton.
The lack of depth in the characters is one of the reasons for the success of the Insidious franchise, yet this aspect has not significantly developed in the fifth installment. This absence may lead horror fans to feel disappointed with the film.
Shallow Character Development
Insidious 5 also brings back familiar characters from the franchise, particularly the psychic Elise (Lin Shaye). Since her role in the previous installment, her appearances have been minimal, leaving little impact on the storyline.
Other characters appear to be further removed after 10 years. Their personalities and thoughts are underdeveloped, making it difficult for viewers to connect with them. The focus remains on the two main characters: father and son, Josh and Dalton.
Josh unexpectedly transforms into a grumpy old man, quite different from his character in the first film. His divorce has also shattered his previously vibrant persona, which many viewers were fond of in the earlier installments. Dalton, now a teenager, exhibits many typical teenage behaviors, sticking to familiar tropes in teen horror films.
With a lackluster script, the performances from the actors fail to shine. Patrick Wilson has not yet found success in balancing dual roles as director and actor. Ty Simpkins lacks the experience to convincingly portray Dalton in his transformation.
The film received negative feedback upon its release, scoring “Rotten” with 36% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 44/100 on Metacritic. This rating marks a low point for the franchise, slightly lower than the fourth installment.
Many reviews have criticized the film for being unengaging, failing to utilize the beloved characters in the Lambert family effectively. The screenplay lacks creativity in its execution. The ending feels rushed and still carries a sense of awkwardness.
In summary, Insidious 5 is a step back for the once-popular horror franchise. It would have been better for production studios to conclude the series after the second installment rather than continue to produce lower-quality projects.
