THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
The Insidious franchise was one of the franchises to instantly define the 2010s for scaring audiences however possible. Chapter 2 left us with such a shocking cliffhanger, we couldn’t believe that the following two films would be prequels rather than following up on it. In a new era, we got the conclusion we’ve been waiting for.
PLOT
2023’s The Red Door takes place 9 years after Josh Lambert and his eldest son Dalton had their memories of experiencing the astral dimension, The Further, repressed. Ever since this decision, their family has now grown apart. Josh would break up with his wife Renai, feeling strained with Dalton, and the youngest son Foster mistakes the past to be nightmares. After the death of his mother Lorraine, he plans to heal his family by dropping off Dalton to college before the new semester. It doesn’t work out as he wishes when his son doesn’t budge with him. In his first art class, he would draw the red door from the Further. As for Josh, he would be haunted by the ghost of his father Ben who he believed abandoned him when he was young. Back in college, Dalton would attend a frat party with his roommate Chris Winslow and ends up seeing the ghost of a student who died, causing him to accidentally enter the Further. When he explains his recent experiences to Chris, she would explain that he is (re)discovering astral projection. She would proof of its existence with a YouTube channel made by Specs & Tucker (Leigh Whannell & Angus Sampson), as well as a video of the late Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) explaining of the dimension he uncovered. When he tries astral projecting again, he ends up encountering the same red faced demon that was after him in his childhood. When he reaches out to Foster, he would recall his nightmares of their father attacking them. This would inspire Dalton to finish his painting, which would be of his possessed father breaking through a door. When he projects again, he inadvertently finds the memory of Josh attacking them in the basement, unaware he was possessed at the time. When he intervenes, he ends up getting captured by the red faced demon once again. At home, Josh would do research on his father and learn he took his life when institutionalized. When he reaches out to Renai for answers, she reveals Ben was able to astral project as well but he believed himself to be at the time, hence killing himself. She would then share the truth to him of how they agreed to suppress their memories of the past for their protection. Just as the truth came out, Foster shows his parents a picture Dalton sent of his painting. Realizing their son is in danger, Renai is able to quickly instruct Josh to enter the Further to save their firstborn. Dalton does get possessed by the red faced demon and almost kills Chris, but is stopped once Josh intervenes. Amends is officially made when Josh explains to his son he wasn’t in control when he attacked the family. The demon would chase them both, causing Josh to allow his son to escape the Further, holding the door shut until he can’t. Knowing the demon will break through, Dalton paints over the painting of his door with black paint, shutting the Further’s door shut once and for all. Josh is able to return to his body with the assist of his father’s spirit. Once back, Renai hints at reuniting with him after inviting him to have dinner. As he leaves, he unknowingly meets Elise’s spirit who shares he has a bright future ahead of him. The film would end with Josh visiting Dalton at college, seeing a portrait of him guiding his son out of the Further.
THOUGHTS
After The Last Key, I gave up on the possibility of ever seeing a proper conclusion to ther arc of the Lambert family. Patrick Wilson, who starred as Josh, knew there had to be an answer, which impresses me to see him step up and share just that in his directorial debut. The terror we felt 12 years prior is there and is more effective than what was felt in the prequels. Joseph Bishara delivers another compelling score to reflect the return of terror you never thought would. I knew if we’d see the Lamberts again, we had to see the monster that was targeting him. This would only be a welcomed return of the disturbing red faced demon. Still within a limited amount of time, this creature is able to leave behind a bone chilling impression. Bishara, likely for the last time, reminds us how terrifying this creature is when portraying it as a stone cold personification. Between the terror, you would want to think it is worth it. Well I think I am right to say it is because this is the one that bravely tells us forgetting the pain doesn't change the pain, but remembering & accepting it is what will make us better versions of ourselves. This is exactly what the Lamberts go through and come to terms with in a journey they wish they didn't have to take. As an actor, Wilson still has us invest in Josh because he reminds us in a loving man to his family, but felt disconnected due to the decision he forgot he made. His good intentions brought damage no one would anticipate, leading us to believe happy endings are nonexistent. When the truth came back to him, his determination to set things right resumed the connection that made their family good hearted in the first place. There was no way I would watch this if Ty Simpkins did not return as Dalton, due to the respectable career he built since the original film. Like his father, the character doesn't how to express himself since he couldn't remember a big part of his life. Art was his way to figure out how to speak up and while that was a good thing for him, his hobby unknowingly brought the past back to him. He couldn't help exploring because he wanted an answer to satisfy him. While it wasn't what he was looking for, it was enough for him to accept. It definitely was a lot for him to consume, but at least he came to terms like Josh would. It even felt great to see him his dad like before, proving how strong the love for family is. The final shot of his painting was amazing to see as it symbolized how much he'll appreciate him until the very end. Since these two were the driving force, you still gotta give credit to the rest of the Lamberts. Rose Byrne still has us respect Renai being just as protective as her mother in law was. She didn't want her family haunted from the past and chose to try blacking it out like her son later would do more effectively. The problem is that she was so scared of what had happened before, she couldn't bare it happening again and chose to separate. But once everything came full circle with Josh remembering and putting an end to the threat lurking them, she felt safe again. She did the right thing fessing up once Josh started figuring it out because this was realization that the past can't be ignored forever. While this story does not affect the youngest child Kali (Juliana Davies) since she was a baby at the time of the first two, you know damn well it affected Foster since he was close to Dalton's age. Andrew Astor still pulls it off in an upbeat kid, but is understandably confused of what is going on with his family. It surprises me his memories weren't suppressed like Dalton because it would've helped him not have nightmares. Nevertheless, it was gladdening to know he'd help him out with telling him whatever he can remember. Since we've focused on the Lamberts from day one, I doubted we would get new characters at this point. Enter Sinclair Daniel who left a good mark as Chris. She was a treat to see in her given time for just being herself and doesn't really feel affected by whatever trouble came her way. She and Dalton got along so well due to how they both respected each other's passions; He respected her music and she would respect his art. And return, she is there for him when needed most. If this were to lead to them becoming more than friends, I wouldn't mind that at all as I wouldn't mind if it never would. I was generally impressed with what this movie was doing, but it didn’t excuse some issues I caught into as I watched it. For instance, why the hell would Carl (Steve Coulter) go to the funeral? If the whole point was keep the past secret, he should’ve not been there. Another thing, how does the mind wiping work if Josh was only gonna remember Dalton’s recovery? If there is a possibility of using false memories, Carl should’ve done so. I don’t know if they were copying Whiplash, but how does Professor Amagram (Hiam Abbass) still have a respectful career if she’s convincing her students to rip their drawings? She’s lucky Dalton got invested and was willing to rip up the portrait of his deceased grandma. Considering the title sequence showed off a drawing of Elise, how has Renai not seen her son’s drawings? I know she doesn’t want to be overprotective, but it can’t be like she’d be curious of his interests/hobbies. And why does it take so long for Dalton to get a new roommate? Since he ends up getting along with Chris anyway, it amazes me there isn’t a scene of her reversing her request to switch rooms. I then gotta point out she should’ve not been surprised that Dalton had a night light because you can’t expect someone to do not anything about it when being afraid of the dark. Chris even goes on a big leap believing he wanted to join a frat all because he had a flyer in the trash. That is one shitty way to connect the dots. Also, I don’t think Specs & Tucker should’ve kept their YouTube channel up because of what happened to the Lamberts. It’s one thing to have a nostalgic cameo like Carl, but they should’ve been cautious to keep Josh & Dalton under the loop. And why does Dalton wait until after moving into his dorm to ask Foster of his coma? If he knew his mom wasn’t gonna fess up about it, he should’ve went to the one kid who remembered the coma way before graduating. I then wonder why doesn’t Josh’s dad talk to him by passing through the door he’s trying to block him with? If he can close a door with a thought and break through windows, this should’ve not been a problem. And lastly, why couldn’t Elise protect Josh & Dalton like she did in Chapter 2? If she’s able to talk to the former without being in the Further, I don’t think there would be a problem for her to do so. Other than that, this is an impressive film overall. To wrap up, Insidious: The Red Door is an entertaining horror film that doesn’t need to bring anything new to be a satisfying conclusion. If you’ve been a fan of this franchise since day one, I hope you enjoy this film like I have.
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