Insidious: Out of the Further Brings Fresh Scares to Familiar Territory

The Insidious franchise is a horror series that could go on endlessly if left to. Different people from around the world can venture into “The Further” to explore its different doors. But the real question is, “Should it?” Haven’t we milked it for all it’s worth?

I think we’ll find out in Insidious: Out of the Further, the sixth entry in the supernatural series. I'm a big fan of the original film and have enjoyed the four sequels, though to varying degrees. In my view, Lin Shaye as Elise is the franchise's true highlight, and it's great news that she returns in this latest installment.

This movie follows a single mother and dentist named Gemma (Amelia Eve, known for The Haunting of Bly Manor), who accidentally discovers she can travel into the Further. The evil that lives there learns it can follow her into the real world, bringing its companions with it. Only with the help of Elise (Lin Shaye) can she defeat these demons and banish them back to the Further.

I was skeptical for the first 15 minutes, expecting it to be just another “sixth movie in a franchise” with recycled content from the previous films.

Forgive me for not believing in you, Jacob Chase, because I was wrong.

James Wan, the director of the original film, and Leigh Whannell, its writer, both return as producers for this installment, with Jacob Chase directing. Chase is a new addition to the franchise's crew but clearly a fan, staying faithful to the original's essence while introducing his own style that blends almost seamlessly with the rules and laws of the spirit realm.

Cinematographer Dave Garbett and Chase collaborate to recreate the familiar ambiance of the Insidious films using cinematic techniques: sweeping camera movements, haunting fog effects, and strategic lighting to emphasize ghouls or create atmospheric shadows. This keeps you grounded in the world we know and prevents the separation between the two worlds from becoming too blurred.

Amelia Eve delivers a standout performance as Gemma. I loved her in The Haunting of Bly Manor and had high hopes for her in this, and she delivers. She conveys a range of emotions while keeping the story grounded, from a happy mom with a great job and boyfriend, to the slow deterioration of her life and mind due to the haunting elements of the Further, to a badass super mom. Her facial expressions convey the most without becoming overdone. I hope this catapults her career into more horror projects.

I was somewhat disappointed with how Lin Shaye’s character, Elise, was used. Her lines felt cringey. It almost seemed like she wasn’t on set for long, so they had to shoot her parts quickly. Nonetheless, it’s always a pleasure to see her in these films. This might be my least favorite appearance of hers, but I believe the issue was more about poor writing than her acting.

The line “That’s just what I do” is the most cringe-worthy.

Weak writing may have been why I didn’t feel an emotional connection between Gemma and her daughter, Maya (Island Austin). The third act includes tense moments for them, and I wanted to cry, but the emotional depth felt undercooked. I loved the Lamberts in the original film and went through it with them when Dalton was lost in the Further. I expected to love this family too, but I didn’t connect with them as I did with the Lamberts.

There may have been moments of feeble prose, but you know what wasn’t weak? The jump scares. Insidious movies are known for effective jump scares with sudden stingers that hit you right in the gut, and there is no shortage of them here. Long silences as Gemma roams her house will have the audience holding their breath, waiting for the moment to strike.

Plus, the scares weren’t all predictable, so I covered my face with my hands to keep from screaming (I’ve been known to damage some ears). But the most terrifying scene in the film involves Maya’s pillow fort—absolute claustrophobic Backrooms vibes.

One of my early worries was that it was becoming too much like Smile or It Follows. The new villain from the Further even gave me Longlegs vibes. Fortunately, the story stayed faithful to the original films, integrating Further elements into this new storyline in ways that hadn’t appeared in earlier installments.

Much of this hinges on the emphasis on practical effects. I love how the real smoke and fog stay close to the ground, signaling to the viewer that you're trapped in the Further. The clever use of lighting, combined with in-camera blocking—careful planning of actor movements and props—heightens the unsettling atmosphere and maintains a constant sense of tension.

There’s also a fair amount of body horror and dentistry in this one. I just had my first cavity filled not too long ago, so I was definitely triggered!

The cherry on top is an effective score, and this one is another solid performance from Joseph Bishara, who has scored all the Insidious movies. The moment the title card hits and that familiar attack of the violin strings kicks in, it takes me back to 2010, when I saw the original in theaters, giving me a delightful dose of nostalgia and terror.

The film starts to feel a little clunky about halfway through. The villain’s backstory feels undercooked, while the big twist feels rushed. This may stem from the excessive explanations early on, which oversimplify the story for new viewers. Since this is the sixth film in the series, additional background on the Further might be unnecessary. Still, Blumhouse may have aimed to attract a broader audience by including that information. The climax was so quick that the subsequent falling action and resolution didn’t leave enough time to process what was happening, leading to a somewhat lackluster finale.

I was also disappointed not to see Specs and Tucker, the ghost hunters from the previous Insidious films. I wondered if they would make an appearance for comic relief, but sadly, they did not. That’s forgivable, as there is a sprinkle of humor that got a few laughs at my screening.

Despite all that, I give Insidious: Out of the Further four out of five stars. I had a great time and imagine it would be thrilling in a packed theater. It’s pure popcorn-horror fun, with jump scares and vibes reminiscent of the original, including appearances by some familiar (demon) faces. I don’t think it captures what made the original so special to me, but it kept me on edge with a laugh here and there, and that was enough serotonin to recommend it to Insidious fans.

I wonder where they’ll go from here. I don’t necessarily want to see another movie about this family, but I don’t want to drag it out, either. I’m glad they almost stuck the landing with this one, but how many Insidious movies are too many? Amityville Horror can probably tell you.

Insidious: Out of the Further hits theaters nationwide August 21.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxU8FU3o75A