Insidious: The Red Door (2023) User Reviews

Have you ever called your little brother, "little brother"?

[Howling_at_the_Moon_Reviews · 4/10 · 7 July 2023]

Well guys... despite me really looking forward to this new installment in the franchise and an overall excitement for what was to come... I must say I was generally disappointed. This series started on a high note with a steady decline in quality and intrigue but never landed below average. Each one brought something seemingly new and different to the table... this one, however, I cannot say the same about.

This was essentially just a retelling of the first story but 9 years later. Like, truly guys, it was pretty much the same. I kept waiting and waiting to feel like something was happening. Something interesting, something new or exciting... really, just anything besides a jump scare. All of a sudden I was over 2/3s of the way through and the story was just not delivering. It rounded out being a bit of a bore as far as action/plot went.

The production was also greatly hindered in my opinion by other variables such as script, acting and characters. The script was... poor. It felt like an amalgamation of every cliché line and trope you have ever heard in a horror movie put into one script. I audibly laughed at certain lines because they were just too much to handle lol.

Also the characters were just plainily not super relatable or enjoyable. The dad was just a little too pathetic to where it was a bit cringe, the son was so much of that "irritable, bratty teenager" that it was irksome... and don't get me started on that TIRED, cliche character of the "quirky random stranger that is blunt, pushes comfort zones and becomes best friends with the main character in 12 hours". I think between the script and the characters... the actors didn't have all that much to work with, but if I had to make a blanket statement regarding that, I would say the acting was unsuccessful.

Despite these faults, I wouldn't say that this was entirely unsuccessful as a whole. Being a fan of this universe, it was nice to see these characters, monsters and plots revisited. There were some genuine scares and solid spook factor despite them primarily relying on jump scares. Unfortunately I just don't think they really pushed this in creating something new, fun, fresh and original. I found myself exiting the theater asking myself "why"... like what was their goal in making this, what was their point. I'm giving this a 4.5 rounding down to a 4. It wasn't awful, but as far as recommendation goes I don't think you're missing out on much if you pass on it.

IG - howlingatthemoonreviews.

Disappointing

[overconsumer450 · 4/10 · 13 July 2023]

As a longtime fan or horror and someone who found that interest through the insidious and conjuring universes, I was expecting more out of this film. It felt as though there was a think tank meeting where some important ideas were thought of and they decided to explore those without really fleshing them out. There were hardly any jump scares or truly unique elements of horror, overall just a very predictable plot. Despite the runtime, this movie felt very fast, almost like an episode of a TV show. This in combination with an unbearably cringy script for the best friend/roomate character made this my least favorite movie of the franchise and one that I could've lived without.

Boring and predictable

[jendevjoss · 3/10 · 8 July 2023]

Come on Blumhouse, can you come up with better horror films than this lately. Thoroughly disappointed with this movie. What was the point? We already knew everything that happened in the movie, it was nothing new, it was very predictable. The movie was very slow and boring. No new material or creatures or scenes or anything that kept you on the edge of your seat. There were a couple jump scares but nothing exciting. The storyline was really dull and was exactly what we knew from previous movies about the evolution of Insidious. When it was over, you were left feeling, why did I spend money for this?!

Back to the start

[tymoody · 6/10 · 7 July 2023]

This entry and hopefully conclusion to the franchise was not a masterpiece, but also wasn't bad either. It is a typical horror film and one that made me jump a few times which is something movies don't seem to make me do anymore. It is no where near as good in story as the first two films, but is better than 3 and 4 by a long shot. I don't think this movie had the same tone as the first two which was hard to get used to, but wasn't bad either. Unlike other reviews, I enjoyed the first 2/3s of the film more than the ending that seemed sort of rushed and random. It is a must see for fans of the franchise, but for a casual movie goer this might not be your thing.

Disappointed

[jjay0307 · 3/10 · 9 July 2023]

It was very slow paced, and dragged on, the storyline was a little dull and not like the others, I thought the last one wasn't as great, but it was much better than this one, I was so excited to have the main cast back, and to see another installment, I was hoping it would dive deeper into the further, and see many more evil characters, but it was not meant to be, it was the same old rehashing from previous movies, the whole collage thing put me off the most, and making it upto date modern gen z stuff was so boring, I could have done without that, it built slowly and didn't land, there was like 5 jump scares, and that was about it, I'd like to say something different, and I'm not moaning to just moan, but it wasn't good and my advice, don't waste your time.

Not as bad as the reviews make out

[katyrowland · 6/10 · 4 August 2023]

First of all, it's definitely not the best horror film I've ever seen. It's not going to win any Oscar's or leave you gasping in awe. However, it's certainly not a terrible as some of the reviews suggest.

It holds your attention and has some great jump scares.

On the negative side, I'm a huge fan of the insidious movies, but this just doesn't feel like it belongs with the others.

The plot isn't terrible, but the college scenes are a bit cheesy, overacted and stereotypical. The whole sorority thing has been overdone.

In short, as a stand-alone movie this is fine. A solid 6/6.5. It just doesn't have the insidious feel for me.

Watch this at Home

[saadkhan-61833 · 1/10 · 9 July 2023]

There is nothing special about this movie storyline that you are going to miss so I highly advise you to watch this at home when it comes out online because you will be highly disappointed just like I was. My wife and I watched first two parts again before planning to go for this one and we were very excited. However, I didn't like the trailer and had low hopes because part 3 and part 4 were not that good and I actually think that lambert story ended pretty well in part 2 so there was no need to make another part on them. This movie is highly disappointing and pointless. After all the characters went through , the wife divorces the husband. And the kid he saved has so much of attitude and hates his father. Its all messed up, right. Cali who was always left alone by the mother in first two part is only seen once in this movie so the director also forgot about her. The little brother also doesn't have much screen time. The movie focuses on Dalton and josh relationship which is not going well. There are only few jumpscares and the first jumpscare comes very late in the movie when its almost 40 mins in the movie. The movie is only mysterious for the characters and not for the audience because we already know what happened with them so it is really pointless that only until the end they remember what happened with them and this is no surprise for the audience. Story of josh father was also useless, there was nothing special about it and why would he haunt him and try to kill him , this is so stupid. I thought at the end they will get the courage to face their demon and fight it but once again they were just easily running away from it. And in the end, Dalton cowardly left his father holding the door all by himself and the end reveals that it is only because of the stupid red door painting that this all came back to haunt them so what he does is just paint it black to close the door, that's it and the movie ends . Wasted my money on this boring and cash grab movie made by the makers.

Mostly impressive

[benjaminskylerhill · 6/10 · 7 July 2023]

The guy sitting next to me covered his ears for literally the entire movie. I don't blame him, as there were a frustrating amount of obnoxious, tasteless jump scares.

But an equal amount of the scares were EXTREMELY effective, involving clearly thoughtful placement of disturbing imagery and refreshing patience. Patrick Wilson's extensive experience in horror films gave him insight on how to craft atmosphere. I just wish he would have done it more often.

The story does find good reasons to exist-to continue this long-delayed franchise. It explores themes of memory that feel like a natural continuation of the Lambert's story. And it culminates in an emotionally satisfying ending.

It's just that the script too often falls upon stilted, unnatural dialogue and is paced without a sense of progression, and it makes this movie a lot less effective and memorable than it could have been with the many good ideas on display.

One of the worst movies this year

[pensacolacomputer · 2/10 · 9 July 2023]

This was one of the worst movies this year for me.... And I usually LOVE horror movies.

First off, this is not a Patrick Wilson movie. He is in it for less than half of the movie. The main "stars" are the grown up kid Dalton and the "newcomer" girl Chris (horrible character)....they are the "stars" in this movie".....the mom is in it for about 5 minutes and Elise is in it about 1 minute. So the cast list of characters is WRONG. If you look it has Patrick Wilson at #2 and Rose Byrne at #3 and then newcomer Sinclair Daniel (Chris) at #4. Once again, this is WRONG. She is in the movie the most right up there with Dalton, and she is NOT good in this.

But besides that, this was by far THE WORST Insidious movie out of all 5. Not scary at all. Patrick, please do not direct another movie.

2/10 - SAVE YOUR MONEY ...HORRIBLE "MOVIE"

A quality film!

[jp_91 · 8/10 · 6 July 2023]

"Insidious: The Red Door" marks Patrick Wilson's directorial debut and the result is solid but not a masterpiece. The script revolves around the Lambert family and the past that comes back for them, a large part of the film presents supernatural events that are a delight, in addition to creating scenes with good suspense and a lot of tension, the negative is the ending that becomes abrupt and without emotion. The cast gives good performances, highlighting the scream queen Lin Shaye whose minutes on the screen are scarce but her appearance is perfect in acting. The cinematography does a good job, especially with chiaroscuro. The editing is dizzying and accentuates the suspense. The design of The Lipstick-Face Demon is very effective and looks especially gloomy in this fifth part of the saga. A formidable movie but with an abrupt final battle that turns out to be a bit disappointing, but overall it's a quality movie.

For a directorial debut, this feels surprisingly high-quality

[FeastMode · 7/10 · 7 July 2023]

Let me start by saying it's important to remember the first two movies in this franchise. If you haven't seen them in years, you will be lost. If you don't have time to rewatch them, you can find recap videos on youtube.

Right from the opening shot, you can feel the quality filmmaking. I couldn't believe it's directed by Patrick Wilson (Josh in chapters 1 and 2). It's his first time in the director's chair and I think he did a great job.

The movie really takes it's time, both with fleshing out the characters and with setting up the scares and creating atmosphere. Some people might find it slow since it doesn't have jump scares every few minutes. For me, I could feel the tension building until we finally get a scare. And all the jump scare attempts are successful.

I loved that they chose a new setting and went in different directions than usual. It prevents the movie from feeling tired and too much like the previous ones. At the same time, it still has that Insidious essence.

I had a fun time with this movie. I think most fans of the franchise will enjoy it. I also feel like it's a good example for the people who complain about too many sequels and reboots. Anything can be good if it's done right. The problem with bad sequels isn't lack of ideas, it's poor filmmaking.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday 7/6/2023)

Why?!

[jon7214-262-31892 · 2/10 · 24 October 2023]

The whole lead up to this was that FINALLY this movie would focus on the lipstick demon. The darth maul demon. Instead it was a poorly paced, poorly executed out of nowhere family drama slog. Teens written by ppl who seem to have never been ones or even talked to them. This didn't even live up to any of the other sequels and this was supposed to be THE ONE. It's NOT.

Sound: there is no crackling, hardly any zero to loud sounds just mid.

Scare factor: you could watch a ghost show on YouTube and be more scared. This was a HUGE letdown for me. Huge!

Specs, her ghost, etc? 15 seconds or so of screen time.

Glad I rented it on sale for $3. Even then, I feel ripped off.

Definitely not scary

[danielcereto · 3/10 · 17 July 2023]

I went to the movies with my girlfriend that she doesn't like horror movies. So, she was scared about this one. I'm a big fan of good horror ones, so consequently I gave it a try to this one even the big red flag (+13).

First, the movie is weak. It doesn't work as a whole story keeping in mind it's the fourth statement. It's boring and it doesn't add anything to the genre. The script is predictable as an episode of kitchen nightmares.

Second, the big letdown. It is not scary. Even for teens. What had happened to Hollywood? Is this the best you can do to try to scare the audience? A shame and a wasted opportunity.

So, overall a waste of time. A predictable movie from beginning till the end, were *spoiler* NOBODY DIES!!

A good directorial debut.

[kiddkarloff · 7/10 · 11 July 2023]

I'm proud of the Insidious franchise for keeping it in the family. The film had its hiccups, but it was mostly on the editing side. You can tell there were executive choices made that did not fit with the initial vision. Ultimately Patrick Wilson (Josh Lambert) had the tall order of directing and starring. He did great. Ty Simpkins returning as Dalton felt authentically and painfully teenage artist. I'm proud of everyone and how hard they worked. Sinclair Daniel was a delight as Dalton's sidekick and the comic relief of the film, Chris.

When I say it felt like a family affair, it really was. Congratulations Patrick Wilson. I really enjoyed myself at the movies.

I hate it had to end this way

[notkingsoup · 1/10 · 10 July 2023]

If you've seen Insidious & Insidious: Chapter 2 congratulations! You've already seen this movie. Insidious: The Red Door is a very underwhelming finale to the once promising franchise. They start off with making Josh and Dalton forget the events of Insidious 1 & 2 which makes their relationship very awkward.

The reason why i say you've seen this movie before is because it's literally the first two movies without the coma & Josh being possessed. Dalton realizes he can astral project again and gets caught again. Josh goes into The Further and saves him...AGAIN. There's no explanation to The Further or the demon that constantly haunts Dalton. The only new information taken from this movie is that Josh's father could Astral Project & he died in a mental hospital. Other than that there is nothing new brought to the table. Showing the two assistants from the first movie, Elise & the red faced demon was not enough to cover up the fact that this is a horrible movie.

The Jump scares are lazy. They try to force a relationship between Dalton and Chris (terribly written character btw). It's just a lot of stuff going on that has very little to do with the main plot. I never thought i'd see a Bob Ross horror film until now. If you told me that the only way to stop the demons in Insidious was to PAINT i would laugh...until i realized you were 100% serious.

Save your money people.

It's not the best but

[surajlokesh-16597 · 6/10 · 13 July 2023]

I couldn't help but believe that the horror component of the film fell short of expectations as it neared its finale. It's impossible to say whether this occurred as a result of my yearlong exposure to a large number of horror films or if there was a problem with the writing. I wished there had been more genuinely horrific and spine-chilling moments because the ending felt a little hurried. The emotional depth between the characters was another component I hoped had been further addressed in the movie.

The movie did, however, have certain advantages. An unsettling mood was created by the cinematography and visual effects, which added to the overall suspense. The tension was effectively heightened by the use of lighting and sound design, increasing the audience's anticipation during crucial scenes.

Pointless

[simonmattera · 1/10 · 2 August 2023]

When you see movies like this u couldn't care less about the writers strike in hollywood, if they aren't able to come up with better scripts anyway. Seriously an episode of american horror story is more enjoyable than this. Dalton goes to college, a few jump scares - the end! That is exactly the movie. It started with the funeral of the grandmother, missed opurtunity right there! Thought we would meet her in the realm of the dead. Nope. Silly boring teenager scenes at college the first half of the movie. No ghost hunters, no elise. No new installments, no surprises, no shock value (besides cheap jump scares) no real horror. The first insidious was one of the most creepy horrorfilms i saw, loved it. The red door is just lame and completely boring. Patrick Wilson, please stick to acting or choose better scripts if you direct a movie.

Great addition to the franchise

[Samijxoxo · 7/10 · 5 July 2023]

Insidious is one of my favourite movies. I thought 2 was ok but wasn't a fan of the others. This movie has the same feel as 1 & 2 but is also enjoyably different. The jumps scares and the build up are fun, don't feel redone and are still able to strike the same cord as as the previous movies.

The story itself was good, perfect way to continue the families storyline and build upon the characters. However , there are some limitations but I can't tell if I feel that way because I'm such a die hard fan and horror nerd or they are actual issues that take away from the movie. I feel like the third act has a lot of material that was left on the cutting room floor. The scenes in the Further felt rushed, considering it's importance to the story and the general pace of the movie. Regardless I will watch it again and I'd be excited for anything related to the franchise further especially if Wilson or Wan are directing.

This is movie fits well with the others or could be a great stand alone movie to horror fans. Don't nerd out and just enjoy it.

Is this supposed to be horror?

[euroman_35 · 1/10 · 9 July 2023]

Saw it two days ago. Is this supposed to be horror? Or some Lars von Trier experimental movie with cheap effects and method acting?

Patrick Wilson walks around for most of the movie dressed like an angry gym coach.

Every freaking time what's with the smoke machine? It's turned on to cover for the cheap effects? And when someone in a cheap mask says bugga bugga.

Not forgetting Patrick Wilson and guy playing his oldest son competing in method acting. Plus what's with the sidekick of the son? She made me think of the Scary movie series, not horror.

Movie is not and scary at all in my opinion.

A return to form

[blangero · 9/10 · 5 July 2023]

I wasnt the biggest fan of the fourth one honestly and 3 was ok at best, so I can tell you i was pleasantly surprised with this one. It has its own personality. The lack of original factors, in the scare departments, prevents this from being a 10, but i still loved it. All the great characters AND villains from the first 2 movies are here.

I also like that it deals with the psychological consequences of the first 2 movies. So dont listen to the haters, if you are a fan of this franchise you will love this one!

(There is one particular scene that was REALLY effective and scary and claustrophobic You ll know when you see it. The whole audience was scared, i loved it)

it continues

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 August 2023]

Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins) has repressed childhood memories. His parents are divorced. His grandmother Lorraine has just died. He is estranged from his father Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and they have a big fight in the move to college. He is mistakenly placed in the same dorm room with Chris Winslow (Sinclair Daniel) and she becomes his new friend. In his art class, he is possessed to paint The Red Door.

I really need a "previously on" segment in these movies. I barely remember anything from the earlier movies. Elise Rainier should come in and do an exposition dump. I'm guessing that Rose Byrne is too busy to do anything more than a cameo. This feels like an attempt at passing the lead responsibilities to Dalton. Apparently, Patrick Wilson is trying his hand at directing. This is similar to a TV star directing an episode of his own show. He is relying on the same horror move, a creepy figure in the background. It becomes noticeable when he keeps using it over and over again. In the end, it has some creepiness, but there is nothing new. The franchise continues. Maybe, they're getting rid of the veteran salaries in the future and go bargain with Ty as the lead.

Bad movie would not be complete without an out of place Black girl with a boy name...Chris

[shaundoggty · 1/10 · 14 September 2023]

Good thing the movie was free. It was horrible, complete with no visit back to the scariest person which was Parker. There was a Black roommate which did not make any sense and I did not know why she was even in the movie at all. She was annoying and extremely out of place. It is like the new thing to do is put Black people in these remakes, which is fine if it makes sense. It was also not scary and made absolutely no sense and to keep it a secret that the further happened and split from your husband before telling him what really happened makes no sense. Josh is hated by his whole family???? He is supposed to be the center of the whole family and the movie in the first and second and now it is Dalton. Then, there is the kid that was in the frat house and I thought there was going to be something there like a murder? The whole thing was too short, no scary enough and Dalton barely spoke. The black girl did the most talking and she was super annoying. Horrible movie.

Shut the door!

[BandSAboutMovies · 2/10 · 8 July 2023]

There's a sound -- a nearly imperceptible sigh -- that my wife makes when a film displeases her. I've heard it, sitting next to her in quiet theaters and I know that I don't even have to ask if she liked the movie.

During this film, I heard it more than a few times.

As someone who mainly loves either drive-in era movies, foreign horror or films out to test the audience's gag reflex with a torrent of upsetting scenarios and body decimation, it took some time for me to begrudgingly respect the ghost and possession cycle of James Wan, starting with 2010's Insidious, followed by 2013's The Conjuring and then alternating each year or so between these franchises. Both of these series are marked by his quality eye for direction as well as some truly well-delivered art direction, something that's lacking in so many modern horror movies.

But as it goes, franchises get stale. The Conjuring will hit nine movies this fall -- and two shorts -- while this is the fifth Insidious film. Created by Leigh Whannell (who also worked on Saw and Dead Silence with Wan and directed the underappreciated Upgrade), the first two films center on Josh and Renai Lambert (Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne) and their children Dalton, Foster and Cali. They're, as usual in long franchises, the best in the overall series.

A review, for those that haven't seen the film: Dalton encounters an entity in the attic of the family home and goes into a coma, but is truly trapped in a realm past life and death called The Beyond, err, The Further. That very same place nearly trapped Josh when he was a child, a fact that he learns from his mother Lorraine (Barbara Hershey), and required the help of psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye). Now, she must come back, along with paranormal investigators Specs and Tucker (Whannell and Angus Sampson), and figure out how to rescue the Lambert family.

The events of this movie -- and the second, which was predestined based on the shock ending of the original -- run deep within every moment of this reimagining/sequel/restart of the franchise, the first film of the series in seven years.

Spoilers for everything after the trailer...

Directed by Wilson and written by Scott Teems -- more on him in a bit -- this movie opens on tragedy. Lorraine has died, Josh and Renai have divorced, Dalton (Ty Simpkins, who was played the role in the original, as is Andrew Astor as Foster) and his father are distant and it seems like Josh has spent the last few years in what he calls a fog. Even an attempt at connecting by driving Dalton to college fails.

While there, the young artist goes through a memory exercise in class and unlocks memories of The Further, drawing the red door at the entrance. Along with his roommate -- by accident, she's played by Sinclair Daniel and is accidentally placed in his dorm -- he begins to investigate his ability to astral project and avoid ghosts at frat parties. There is a cute scene where both Specs, Tucker and Elaine all appear on YouTube.

Meanwhile, Josh attempts to discover why he's felt like he's lost most of his life. Between a CAT scan gone jump scare and a memory game -- also gone jump scare -- he finally has to go talk to his ex-wife and learn that he once menaced the entire family with a hammer while possessed by Michelle Crane, the Woman In White, as well as the Lipstick Demon.

Now, those same entities have trapped Dalton -- cue the red room, start up "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" and start the fog -- and father must save son.

The issue with this movie is in what you want it to be. Do you want closure for a family that has dealt with the paranormal and blocked it out of their lives until the act of forgetting it split them? Or do you want a scary film that takes ordinary people into the frightening unknown of The Further? This film series has always dealt with loss and grief and the missing spaces caused by those gone from our lives -- Josh's father, Elaine's husband -- but this goes further (pardon the pun) by spending nearly an hour in the miserable lives of a family that has failed to connect before it seemingly remembers that oh yes, this is also a possession movie.

Wilson does fine for a first-time director, but it's a tough walk emulating the footprints of Wan. I watched the original right after we got home from the theater and it's striking how much bigger and richer the first movie is. As for the script, well, Scott Teems has somehow gotten to write a Firestarter reboot, the excoriable Halloween Kills and is now set to write The Exorcist: Believer, all based on a few shorts and some TV work, as far as I can tell. The height of his wit is named a character Nick the Dick after a scene in Bachelor Party and really that's the limit of creativity in a film that outright restages scenes from the second movie.

This is less a movie that is out to scare you as a summer thrill ride and more one that brings closure to a family constantly dealing with decades of missing people and trying to process grief. The film that it wants to be is not always compatible with the type of movie it is sold as. It needs defter hands to pull that off and instead, we are like the characters in The Further, wandering the fog for 90 minutes or so until the lights come on and we can finally go home.

PS: There was a man literally screaming out things while we watched this movie, frightened by almost every jump scare and he wasn't joking. I hope that if you see this movie he's in the audience with you, because he's the best part of the film.

Don't waste your time or money (unless you want to pay to nap)

[sgerelle · 14 July 2023]

This is the worst Insidious movie! I was excited when my sons asked if I wanted to go see the new Insidious movie with them for my birthday - I love all the others and am a horror movie fanatic! This one left me dozing off in the theater and not one moment of a racing heartbeat or anything! My husband and I talked to a couple sitting next to us and the guy felt the same way as me - the movie sucked and they should have left it at The Last Key.

Truly disappointed and if they make another one I don't think I will be watching it (at least not paying to watch it)! This was supposed to be the final but......

Perfectly fine sequel

[masonsaul · 6/10 · 8 July 2023]

Generational trauma and the sins of the father are the main preoccupations of Insidious: The Red Door, a perfectly fine sequel that's focus on confronting trauma rather than forgetting it makes the film a satisfying end to the Lamberts story and the decision to bring these characters back worth it by the end.

Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins are both great, their fractured father son relationship and the slow process of rebuilding it is definitely the strongest aspect of the film. Sinclair Daniel does a really good job as comic relief however Rose Byrne is sadly wasted this time around with about 2 or 3 scenes at the most.

As a debut, Patrick Wilson's direction is competent but nothing more. He proves he can make a conventional horror just as competently as anyone else but doesn't bring anything unique or interesting to set himself apart from everyone else. The scares are mostly cheap jump scares and loud noises apart from a memorable MRI sequence.