'Insidious: Out of the Further' Review: A Fresh And Chilling Step Forward
Audiences will be able to venture into the horrifying realm of the further yet again in Insidious: Out of the Further, the sixth installment of the beloved horror franchise that takes much needed steps forward to expand the lore and mythology of the series while delivering the most chills since the original.
‘Insidious: Out of the Further’ takes place shortly after the events of ‘Insidious: The Red Door’, this time centering on a young mother named Gemma (Amelia Eve) and her daughter Maya (Island Austin). Gemma has been experiencing terrifying dreams that allow her to travel into the realm of The Further where she also has the ability to bring what lurks there back with her into the real world. Fortunately, she’s aided by Elise (Lin Shaye), the franchise’s iconic and now deceased medium that helps her navigate this world in order to ensure a new demonic entity doesn’t succeed in bringing the dead into the world of the living.
Taking the reigns of the franchise this go around is writer/director Jacob Chase, who previously directed the horror film ‘Come Play’. After series veteran and star Patrick Wilson left his imprint in the previous entry, Chase proves to be much needed fresh blood. His steady, assured hand behind the camera, coupled with the emotionally charged storytelling makes this easily the best installment since James Wan’s original film. It’s clear from the jump Chase has rock solid horror sensibilities, able to build a wholly immersive, eerie and claustrophobic atmosphere that reels the viewer in and makes them feel palpably uneasy throughout. The camerawork, lighting and cinematography are all top-notch here, Chase crafting set pieces that provide effective and highly playful jump scares that are rarely lackluster or uninspired. These sequences wonderfully toy with the senses, fully utilizing the empty space of the frame and his dimly lit environments to let the audience’s imagination become their own worst enemy. Even The Further, which has been a mostly chill-free dead zone in previous installments feels far more haunting here, Chase wisely choosing to light these environments minimally, whether it be with only with a lamp or flashlight, aided to tremendous effect by the film’s fantastic sound design.
Thankfully, this isn’t an emotionally hollow affair either, Chase’s script delving into a compelling dynamic between Gemma and her daughter, the former desperately trying to avoid being like her mother who traumatized her in childhood, but slowly losing grip on her own reality, making that far easier said than done. Rooting this story in her childhood trauma and tumultuous relationship with her deceased mother is an inspired choice, especially as the world of The Further begins to bleed into her own world, blurring the lines between her traumatic dreams and her increasingly more unsettling reality. Eve does a great job not only conveying Gemma’s fear and horror at what she’s experiencing, but selling the character’s journey into completely uncharted territory with a deft touch. Shaye’s return to the franchise is always a delight, once again bringing the gravitas and warmth that has helped cement Elise as the series’ iconic staple and bedrock. Eve and Shaye have notable chemistry and as they begin to work together, their dynamic becomes one of the film’s biggest assets.
Chase also expands the lore and mythology of the series into fresh, fertile territory instead of succumbing to the temptation of leaning on the greatest hits to please fans. Thankfully, the potential of the demonic spirits of The Further crossing over into the realm of the living isn’t remotely wasted, leading to some truly haunting sequences that will make audiences’ skin crawl or at the very least heighten their fears of visiting their dentist. Familiar spirits certainly emerge, but it has been far too long since they’ve actually been fully unleashed and more importantly scary. The climax alone feels like breath of fresh air, delivering a resolution to the story that feels unlike any other entry in the series, leaving fans with plenty of intoxicating new questions and nuggets of mythology to explore long after the credits begin to roll.
However, this sequel isn’t without its minor setbacks. While there are a fair amount of inspired and memorable jump scares, there are quite a few instances in which Chase wastes phenomenal build up and tension with a scare that simply doesn’t deliver the bone-chilling oomph it should easily have, resulting in several highly predictable and disappointing jump scares that pale in comparison to far better payoffs in the film. There are also some secondary characters that don’t add much to the story and film overall, including Gemma’s love interest Nick (Brandon Perea) and a tattoo artist named Claire (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), characters that feel far more like plot mechanics than fully fleshed out human beings. It also doesn’t help that the film’s main demonic antagonist Cyrus (Sam Spruell), while intimidating, isn’t nearly as creepy or blood-curdling as other spirits the franchise has had to offer, especially when he steps out of the shadows and takes center stage.
‘Insidious: Out of The Further’ is a surprisingly strong sixth installment in the long-running horror franchise, breathing new life into a series that has been coasting on fumes for its past several installments. Chase’s fresh voice and sharp instincts are a match made in heaven for this world and overarching mythology, leaving that red door open for plenty of fun and tantalizing possibilities to explore should the saga continue. If one thing is for sure, it’s that if Sony decides to head back into The Further yet again, they should have Chase on speed dial.