Insidious: Out of the Further proves there is still some life left in the long-running horror franchise, even if it doesn’t quite recapture the terror of the original. The sixth Insidious film introduces Gemma (Amelia Eve), a young mother who discovers that she can enter the Further—and, more dangerously, bring entities from the supernatural realm back with her. Lin Shaye also returns as fan-favorite Elise Rainier.
Director Jacob Chase creates several genuinely creepy sequences, particularly when the film plays with the boundary between the Further and the real world. The eerie sound design, shadowy visuals, and strange supernatural imagery give the movie the unsettling atmosphere fans expect from Insidious. There are also a few imaginative set pieces that make the film feel more inventive than some of the franchise’s later installments.
Unfortunately, the story becomes increasingly complicated as it tries to expand the mythology of the Further. Some scares feel predictable, and the movie occasionally relies too heavily on familiar horror tricks and exposition. After six films, it is difficult for the franchise to make its ghosts, demons, and jump scares feel completely new. Critics have similarly been divided, with the film sitting at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes shortly after its release.
Still, Out of the Further works as an entertaining supernatural horror movie. Amelia Eve gives the story a strong emotional center, while Lin Shaye’s return provides a welcome connection to the earlier films. It may not be the scariest Insidious movie, but its creepy atmosphere and creative ideas make it worth seeing for longtime fans.
