I had the opportunity to attend a prescreening of Insidious: Out of the Further, and overall, I walked away pleasantly surprised. This was a really strong addition to the Insidious franchise, with a great storyline, solid performances, creepy demons, and some genuinely fun jump scares.
One thing that fans should know going in is that this is not a continuation of the Lambert family’s story. The Studio already made it clear that Out of the Further focuses on a completely new family, and not The Lamberts. Personally, I think that was a smart choice because it allows the franchise to explore a new story without constantly relying on the same characters.
That being said, the movie still manages to give longtime Insidious fans plenty of familiar faces. Several demons from previous films make appearances, including the Lipstick Demon, which was definitely a fun surprise. I do wish the film had taken the opportunity to give us more of a backstory on the Lipstick Demon. At this point, though, it feels like the franchise may be closing that particular door. His cameo, along with appearances from other familiar demons, was still a great treat for fans.
One of my biggest disappointments was the absence of the Psychic Sidekicks. Instead, we are introduced to a tattoo artist named Claire, who some viewers may mistakenly think is Chris from Insidious: The Red Door, but she is a completely different character. I actually think bringing back the psychic sidekicks was a missed opportunity because they always provided a really enjoyable comedic element to the franchise. Their humor never felt too forced, and they brought a great balance to some of the darker moments.
Where the movie really shines, though, is with its story and characters. The acting was strong, the new family was easy to get invested in, and the main demon was a fantastic addition. Appearances from some of the returning demons and small Easter eggs were also highlights for me. There are some fun jump scares throughout, and while the movie didn’t have me hiding under my seat, it definitely delivered some moments that made me jump.
Ultimately, Insidious: Out of the Further feels like a fresh chapter for the franchise while still remembering what longtime fans love about Insidious. It isn’t perfect, and I definitely think there were opportunities to bring back some characters and elements that would have made the movie even stronger, but those issues didn’t take away from what was otherwise a really enjoyable horror experience.
My rating: 3.2/5 ⭐️
If you’re an Insidious fan, I definitely think this one is worth checking out, especially if you enjoy seeing familiar demons and callbacks while getting a completely new story.
And yes… the Further is still a terrible place to wake up in!
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