"Insidious: Out of the Further" Review — Maybe It’s Time to Leave The Further Alone

I’ve been a fan of the “Insidious” franchise since James Wan and Leigh Whannell first introduced us to The Further back in 2010. The original film worked because it presented something genuinely unsettling in this dark realm that coexists with our own. The mystery surrounding it was part of the fun.

Now, after six movies, I believe we have a comprehensive understanding of The Further. In “Insidious: Out of the Further,” produced by Sony Pictures and directed by Jacob Chase, who also pens the screenplay, we are introduced to Gemma, a young mother who discovers she has a unique connection to The Further. This revelation naturally leads to strange noises, shadowy figures, dark rooms, family secrets, and yet another journey into a place that no one in this franchise should ever willingly enter.

It feels too routine. While I don’t expect every sequel to reinvent the wheel, sometimes you want a familiar horror franchise to deliver a solid ninety minutes of scares. However, “Out of the Further” takes too long to get going, and when it finally does, we end up watching variations of things that this series has handled better in the past.

There’s a difference between slow-burn horror and a movie that is simply slow. This one definitely falls into the latter category. The early portions spend too much time establishing Gemma and hinting at what might be lurking around her, which ultimately works against the suspense. Instead of feeling intrigued about what might happen next, I found myself thinking, “Okay, we know where this is going. Can we get there already?”

Amelia Eve brings enough vulnerability to Gemma to keep us engaged, and the returning elements from the franchise provide a comforting nostalgia for longtime fans. Lin Shaye remains one of the best aspects of Insidious; whenever Elise appears, it reminds audiences why they’ve stayed connected to this mythology for so long. However, nostalgia can only carry a franchise so far.

The Further isn’t as frightening as it once was. This isn’t necessarily because the filmmakers have forgotten how to make a horror movie; it’s simply that we’ve visited this place too many times. The darkness feels familiar, the rules are known, and even some of the scares seem repetitive.

There are a few effective moments, notably a pillow fort sequence that left me feeling uneasy, and I wouldn’t label “Out of the Further” as terrible. It’s certainly watchable for Insidious fans.

But at this point, watchability isn’t enough. If this franchise wants to continue, someone needs to find a way to make The Further feel mysterious again. Because this time around, I wasn’t afraid to return; I was waiting for the movie to get to its point.

Final Grade: C

“Insidious: Out of the Further” is in theaters now.