The final chapter of the Lambert family’s terrifying saga. They must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and horrifying terrors that lurk behind THE RED DOOR. A film by Patrick Wilson.

THE RED DOOR is a direct sequel to INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 2. A decade has passed since possession of Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson), and his memories of The Further have been repressed. Now divorced from his wife Renai (Rose Byrne), he has no recollection of the events that led to their separation. When Renai suggests that he drive their son Dalton to college, Josh is initially reluctant. However, he eventually agrees, hoping that the road trip will help to mend their estranged relationship.

Dalton (Ty Simpkins), now a young adult, is attending Jane Pierce University to study art with Professor Armagan (Hiam Abbass). In his first class, everyone is tasked to sink themselves into their thoughts, Dalton finds himself subconsciously drawing a mysterious door that he had used to enter The Further when he was a child. The door reminds him of something buried deep within his memory, but he is unable to recall it clearly after the incident.

The Further is a dark place where many souls are damned to remain forever, a place which is not meant to be tread by the living and time does not work as it does in the real world. It mirrors the material world and appears almost identical to their counterparts in the real world.

Dalton accidentally enters The Further and meets the ghost of a student at a frat party who warns him to close the door. Although at the time, Dalton still has no idea which door the ghost is talking about. Dalton rediscovers that he has ability to astral project which allows him to enter The Further when he falls asleep.

Astral projection is a term used in esotericism to describe an intentional out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of a subtle body, known as the astral body or body of light, through which consciousness can function separately from the physical body and travel throughout the astral plane.

Once Dalton enters a dark realm between heaven and hell, his presence awakens the tortured souls of the dead who have been trapped inside The Further. Dalton is driven to discover the truth, so he attempts astral travel in order to talk with a ghost he met at the frat house. This time, though, he encounters the Red Face Demon, the ruler of the Further.

INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR is a supernatural horror film directed by Patrick Wilson in his directory debut. It also serves as the fifth installment of the INSIDIOUS franchise and supposedly the final chapter of the story. In comparison to the original INSIDIOUS, Patrick Wilson does a good job for a first-time director, given the weak narrative material he has to work with.

There are several standout moments, such as the MRI scene, in which the viewer is subjected to the same claustrophobia and fear as the protagonist, and the scene where a ghost practically breaks down the window. The film’s signature jumpscares also work well, as they are often placed in unexpected moments, catching the viewer off guard.

However, the film’s momentum stalls in the second half as the focus shifts between Dalton and Josh, as they are trying to piece together the truth about their lives in different locations. This results in a disjointed narrative that fails to build on the suspense and scares of the first half. Additionally, the film’s conclusion is underwhelming, as it doesn’t give us the satisfaction we want.

INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR was theatrically released in the United States on 7 July 2023 by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film has grossed over $175 million worldwide on on a budget of $16 million, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise.