The Insidious franchise has been a box office juggernaut since its debut in 2011, with every installment crossing the $100 million mark worldwide—all on a combined production budget of under $50 million. That's a track record most studios would kill for, so it's no shock that Sony and Blumhouse greenlit a sixth film, even after the lukewarm reception to 2023's Insidious: The Red Door. But what do you do with a series that's still making bank but has long since lost its creative spark? According to producer and co-creator James Wan, the answer is to take a sharp left turn and embrace the weird.
Insidious: Out of the Further is the most unhinged, off-the-wall entry in the series yet, clearly drawing more from Wan's own gonzo sensibilities—think Malignant and Dead Silence—than from the grounded dread of the original. Writer-director Jacob Chase respects the lore established by Wan and Leigh Whannell, but he's clearly having a blast bending it into something new. The result is a film that swaps some of its horror for empowering characters, genuine laughs, and bold choices you can't help but respect.
A New Family, A New Nightmare
Unlike the Lambert-centric entries, Out of the Further follows a fresh set of characters, much like Insidious: Chapter 3 and The Last Key. But instead of a prequel, this one takes place after the events of the previous films. Amelia Eve (of The Haunting of Bly Manor fame) stars as Gemma, a single mom and dental hygienist who still lives in the house where her mother died a horrific, tragic death when Gemma was young. When a creepy trio moves into the neighborhood, Gemma's buried past resurfaces, and she finds herself trapped in the Further—the terrifying dimension between life and death—where a demon has taken notice of her unique ability to bring things back and forth between worlds.
With the help of her boyfriend (Brandon Perea), a tattoo artist with supernatural gifts (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), and the iconic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), who returns from the Further, Gemma must fight to survive and protect her daughter. It's a classic setup, but the execution is anything but.
Scares That Work—And Some That Don't
The first act of Out of the Further is pure horror, with plenty of jump scares that are telegraphed but still effective. The real chills, though, come from the subtle moments—a shadow shifting in the background, a figure watching from a doorway. These quiet scares linger long after the loud ones fade. And then there's the dentistry. Two scenes set in Gemma's office are genuinely disgusting, leaning into Evil Dead-style body horror that will make you squirm in your seat.
But around the time Elise shows up to explain the Further's convoluted rules, the movie shifts gears. The scares stop, and the film becomes more of a supernatural thriller with a revenge fantasy edge. It's a risky move, and for a stretch in the second act, it feels like the whole thing might collapse. But Chase and his team double down on the adventurous, empowering core of the story, and it pays off.
A Bold New Direction
Once the film abandons pure horror, it finds its footing. The lore is messy if you think about it too hard, but the script wisely keeps things moving with a shrug-and-go attitude. The result is a breezy, entertaining ride that feels more like a supernatural action-adventure than a traditional horror flick. It's a gamble that could have backfired, but instead it injects new life into a franchise that desperately needed it.
For fans of the series, Out of the Further is a welcome shake-up. It's not the scariest Insidious movie, but it might be the most fun. And in a genre that often plays it safe, that's something to celebrate. If you're looking for a horror movie that's willing to take risks, this one's for you.
For more on the franchise's evolution, check out our take on how Kirby Reed redefined the Scream series. And if you're in the mood for more genre-bending TV, Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is another wild ride.
