While it largely follows the established formula of the Insidious franchise, Insidious: Out of the F

by Henry Pham

Horror films are not my favorite, as you viewers may remember from my previous movie reviews (the same goes for slasher films). While the first film became a phenomenon, the sequels received negative reviews from critics. Still, this franchise is renowned by horror fans. Insidious: Out of the Further is the sixth installment of the Insidious franchise. It takes place in Philadelphia in 2019, and follows a young mother named Gemma who discovers she can travel into the Further, a purgatorial realm of lost souls. However, when something evil comes after her, she realizes she can bring back to the real world whatever lives there. Once the demons realize her power, our world becomes their playground.

The cast performances are the most fun parts in this film. Amelia Eve, known for her role as Jamie Taylor in Netflix’s supernatural horror series The Haunting of Bly Manor, stars as Gemma, a young dentist who cares for her daughter, Myla (portrayed by Island Austin). Eve is compelling in her performance, showing disdain, terror, and fear in the story, with Brandon Perea (Nope), Maisie Richardson-Sellers (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow), and the returning Lin Shaye infusing the film with versatility, with the latter’s character being crucial to this installment. For some reason, returning franchise actors Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins, and some others did not appear in this sequel (not counting the archive footage).

Directed and written by Jacob Chase and based on characters by Leigh Whannell, the film is produced by James Wan, Jason Blum, and Whannell. This sequel maintains the franchise’s signature jump scares, intense moments, and horror atmosphere. The dream worlds and scenes are inventive and jaw-dropping. References to previous installments, including archive footage, are present. While the plot shows improvement over earlier films, it ultimately feels bloated in some scenes, introducing only a few new female characters and their mother-daughter relationship. The pacing is decent and not too slow. On the other hand, the film effectively balances horror, gore, and violence, and Joseph Bishara’s soundtrack adds depth and energy.

While it largely follows the established formula of the Insidious franchise, Insidious: Out of the Further offers an improved plot and a strong new cast. The absence of many returning characters suggests they may be reserved for future installments, but we will have to see, depending on the box-office performance of this film. Overall, the cast and crew demonstrate a strong understanding of both the franchise and the horror genre. While the first film is enjoyable, this sequel comes close of reaching that level of consistency, but lacks extra push. Still, it is recommended for dedicated fans and followers of the series. For the best experience, viewers are encouraged to watch all of the previous films first. One more thing, don’t forget to stick around for the end credits, as they may tease for the franchise’s future.

GRADE: D+