INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR

US, 2023, 107 minutes, Colour.

Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Sinclair Daniel, Hiam Abbas, Andrew As Store, Peter Dager, David Call, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Lin Shaye.

Directed by Patrick Wilson.

This is the fifth episode in the Insidious franchise and initial critical and box office positive response indicates that fans of the series have not been disappointed. The Insidious films are the brainchild of Australian writers and directors, Leigh Whannell and James Wan. (And it is they who began the Saw franchise as well as contributing to The Conjuring franchise – and with Patrick Wilson as the star of insidious as well as the Conjuring films, casual viewers of the series may well get them mixed up

However, the screenplay has been cleverly written so that fans will not be confused. It goes back almost 10 years and continues from eerie experiences for Josh Lambert and his young son, Dalton. In case we don’t remember exactly the details, this film opens with them undergoing hypnosis so that the memories of the frightening experiences will vanish, Josh recovering and resuming his life, Dalton, on the other hand, going into coma for a year. Dalton is played by Ty Simpkins who played the young boy it 10 years earlier. Josh, on the one hand, still feels disturbed but does not understand why, difficulties with his wife and divorcing her, puzzles about his supportive mother – who dies and is buried also at the beginning of the film.

So, the present. Josh is disturbed at his mother’s funeral when he encounters the doctor who hypnotised him but does not recognise him. And the disturbances begin again, vague memories of his absent father, but, gradually, his becoming possessed by visions of bodied and disembodied characters, more and more disturbed. And he has lost the bond with his son. He does off to drive Dalton to his new college, help him settle in, but Dalton is a strange character in himself, dark, morose, a skilful artist who has drawn a portrait of his grandmother, but, like his father, becoming more and more possessed by strange creatures in his imagination and dreams.

Dalton has enrolled in art classes and experiences the highly demanding lecturer, played by Haim Abbas, who illustrates her themes by some of the ferocious Goya paintings, the father devouring his child. She encourages the artists to be quiet, count back from 10, then paint what emerges from their psyche. Dalton starts to paint ominous pictures, especially a red door and a mysterious ferocious character, at first not distinguishable, but then resembling his father, with an axe. Dalton has disturbing dreams, fantasies, out of body experiences.

There is a potential strong anchor in Dalton’s life, a new student, Chris (a vigorous performance by Sinclair Daniel), supporting Dalton, trying to understand him, sharing in some of his fearful experiences.

Josh goes through an MRI process but there is nothing wrong with his brain. But he does go into a deep sleep, nightmares, confronting his inner fears, understanding his father, eventually bonding with Dalton.

Patrick Wilson has been convincing in both the Insidious and Conjuring films – and, this time he is the director. Allegedly the end of the series, but with audience interest who knows what creative turns screenwriters can come up with.

1.     The popularity of the series? This one the fifth? Presupposing earlier films in the series, characters, suppression of memories, surfacing of memories? And the appearance of Elise?

2.     The title, in this film, astral projections, insidious presence, handed on from father to son? The red door, Dalton and his painting, the continued painting, the appearance of the door, behind the door?

3.     The opening with the funeral, the family home, driving Dalton to college, the rooms, the art lectures, the frat party, Josh and his MRI scan, the visits to the home? The contrast with the eerie sequences, astral projections, creatures, intrusions, nightmares, threats and violence, jump scares for the audience? The musical score?

4.     The initial visit to the hypnotist, the suppression of the memories, in Josh, Dalton in coma for a year? His wife and her knowing the truth? Josh’s mother knowing the truth? Her death, the funeral, the presence of the hypnotist? The beginning to jogging Josh’s memory?

5.     The tension in the family, the divorce, Josh and the children, the visits, his wife and her love for Josh, her not being able to handle the situation? The death of the mother? Dalton’s portrait, indication of secrets?

6.     Josh, trying to bond with Dalton, Dalton’s reactions, driving him to college, the frat notices, Josh carrying the luggage, the room, the bed, putting the pictures on the wall, the arrival of Chris, the mistake with the name, male/female? Her staying one night, the discussions, her getting the change of room, going upstairs? Her bright personality?

7.     The art classes, the teacher, strong-minded, the artist refusing to destroy his painting, leaving? Josh, tearing up the painting, the praise of the painting, her praise of Josh’s determination? The lectures, counting from 10, painting whatever surfaced, Josh and the red door, the sinister presence, the black? The teacher and her comments about Goya and his experiences, surfacing in his painting? The father devouring the child?

8.     Josh, going to the MRI, the sinister experiences, asleep, waking, the further presences? The story of his father, absence, hostility? His father’s note about things ending? His death? Yet a sinister presence? Josh and his contact with Dalton? Going to the home, his wife revealing the truth, his sleeping, going into a trance, the violent experiences, the threat of his father, the axe, his becoming like his father, the memories of the past, Dalton is a boy, the frightening situations, Josh possessed by his father, leading to saving Dalton? His waking up and reassured?

9.     Dalton, painting, his quiet personality, Chris forcing him to go to the frat party, the decision that it was lame, Nick, his speech, his room, Chris and Dalton sharing, the apparition of the vomiting man?

10.  The further nightmares, Dalton continuing the painting, black, the figure as is father and the red door, the threats to Chris, her handling the situation, yet her fright, the issue of darkness and lights, danger under the bed? The buildup to the apparitions, sinister, the sinister score? Dalton saved by his father?

11.  A happy ending between Chris and Dalton? Happy reconciliation between Dalton and his father? With the whole family?

12.  The place of this film in the series, and Patrick Wilson directing?