In “Insidious: The Red Door,” the original cast of the horror franchise comes back for the final chapter of the spooky Lambert family’s story. To finally get rid of their demons once and for all, Josh (played by Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (played by Ty Simpkins) have to venture deeper into The Further than ever before. They’ll have to confront their family’s dark past and face a bunch of new and even scarier horrors lurking behind the red door.
The team from the first Insidious movie is making a comeback, including Patrick Wilson (who’s also making his directorial debut), Ty Simpkins, Rose Byrne, and Andrew Astor. Joining them are Sinclair Daniel and Hiam Abbass. The movie is produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli, James Wan, and Leigh Whannell. The screenplay is written by Scott Teems, based on a story by Leigh Whannell and Scott Teems, which is inspired by the characters created by Leigh Whannell.
Last time we saw the Lambert family in “Insidious: Chapter 2,” astral projectors Josh (played by Patrick Wilson) and Dalton (played by Ty Simpkins) had survived multiple trips into The Further. Dalton had been snatched by a demon, but Josh managed to save him. However, in the process, Josh got stuck in The Further while a ghost possessed his body in the real world. Ghost-inhabited Josh went on a rampage, trying to harm his family. Meanwhile, Dalton went back into The Further to find his biological father and bring him back.
“James Wan and I explored some crazy stuff in the Insidious movies,” says Jason Blum, the franchise producer. “But what made them resonate with people is that we started with a loving family. Most of us start families hoping to create a warm, safe space with our loved ones. But as it turns out, most families are complicated in some way. For some, that means therapy, and for others, it means battling demons in a nightmarish dreamscape.”
After everything Josh and Dalton went through, it’s no surprise they’d want to forget it all. They were hypnotized to erase their ability to astral project, which they saw as either a gift or a curse. “After the second film, I felt like we had covered everything there was to cover with the Lambert family,” says Wilson, who reprises his role as Josh and also directs “Insidious: The Red Door.” “I had saved my son, been saved myself, been possessed; I had pretty much experienced everything you can in a horror movie. The biggest question I asked, and that I wanted the audience to ponder, was what happens to a family after ten years when they’ve been hypnotized to forget their traumatic experiences?”
Looking back, Wilson realizes that suppressing trauma in that way isn’t the healthiest approach. He explains, “Just pretending it never happened and trying to forget it isn’t the best way to deal with trauma. I wanted to delve into that aspect.”
The story takes off as the original cast reunites for the third chapter in their family saga and the fifth film in the franchise, following two prequels. After a decade since the events of the second film, Josh and Renai (Rose Byrne) have gone their separate ways due to Josh struggling to fill the major holes in his life. Dalton, now a young adult, is about to attend an art college on the East Coast but has a strained relationship with his father. There’s awkwardness between them, stemming from the events they can’t fully remember, creating resentment on Dalton’s side. These two men are unable to express their desire to mend their relationship because they’re unsure where it went wrong. Yet, they are bound together in more ways than one, and Insidious fans know exactly what that means.
Wilson felt it was the right time to step into the director’s chair for his first feature film. He shares, “I’ve had the desire to direct a film for a while now. While I was searching for the right story, something personal to me, I hadn’t considered the idea of an Insidious movie. However, when it was presented to me, it felt like an incredible opportunity. I deeply care about this franchise, and I knew I would be supported. Blumhouse believed in me as both an actor and a person, and I was confident they would assemble the best team for me. James Wan and I have been discussing filmmaking for years.”
During his directorial debut, Wilson reveals that Wan, his director for Insidious, Conjuring, and Aquaman, set an example and encouraged him to make the film his own. Wilson shares, “James would tell me repeatedly, ‘Make it yours. It’s your movie. What story do you want to tell? You’re the one who will live with it.’ It’s essential to have passion and understanding for the story you want to bring to life.”
Wan expresses his enthusiasm for Wilson continuing the Insidious journey as a director, saying, “I’ve had the opportunity to know Patrick well through our collaborations, and I’m aware of his extensive knowledge and love for cinema. We would often geek out over movies in between takes, making movie references our shorthand. So, it felt natural for him to transition into directing, and I couldn’t be happier that he chose the Insidious franchise for this new role.”
Ultimately, Wilson recognizes that directing his first film is a learning experience, as it should be. He acknowledges the diverse approaches of different directors he has worked with, saying, “Directors have their unique ways of approaching filmmaking, and there’s no one-size-fits-all method. That’s what I love about this industry and directors. There are numerous paths to bring your film to life. My goal was to leverage my strengths, focus on what excites and interests me, and what I’m passionate about. I’m still in the process of discovering my style. I’m constantly learning.”
Wilson highlights the valuable insights he gained from Leigh Whannell, who provided the story for the film and returns to portray the character of Specs. Wilson says, “In some ways, Leigh was even more helpful than James in guiding us on what we could do. Leigh had previously directed the third Insidious film, so he knew what it was like to take charge of the franchise. He provided excellent advice on making it our own, making it different, and when to take those creative liberties.”
The story chosen by Wilson for Insidious: The Red Door draws inspiration from his own experience as a student at a conservatory, where artists delve into their true selves to discover their artistic identities. “While crafting the story with Leigh Whannell and Scott Teems, it made sense for Dalton to be an artist because art played a significant role in the first movie,” explains Wilson. “So his college should be an art school, and he should be challenged to uncover his core identity. That’s what a conservatory or art program is all about—finding your unique voice as an artist.”
With Dalton attending art school, Wilson seized the opportunity to emphasize the film’s central metaphor. “I really emphasized the art aspect—exploring chiaroscuro and how artists like Goya used it, how they had to balance light and darkness in their lives because you need both. After all, when does light shine its brightest? In the dark.”
Upon arriving at college, Dalton immediately connects with Chris, a funny and lively young woman. As Dalton embarks on a new chapter of his life as an adult and resumes his astral projections, Chris becomes his supportive friend and confidante.
Actress Sinclair Daniel, a recent Drama graduate from NYU, landed the role of Chris not only due to her natural acting ability but also because of her educational background. Wilson explains, “Being in a horror film is challenging due to the acting demands. This is especially true for a character like Chris—she serves as the audience’s eyes and ears, provides comic relief, plays the leading lady, offers stability, acts as Dalton’s foil, and experiences her own terrifying moments. And she needs to be young—college-aged. Shooting a horror movie isn’t easy either. There aren’t months of rehearsals, and typically only a few takes are done per setup. You really have to bring it. Sinclair was not only a fantastic actress, but because of her theater school background, we could easily communicate using the language of acting, and she understood it perfectly. She’s truly amazing.”
At college, Dalton finds himself in the class of an imposing professor who challenges the young artists to explore the light and dark aspects of their personalities, ultimately leading Dalton back into The Further. Wilson observes that it seems like every young artist has a teacher who pushes them out of their comfort zones to develop their craft. “I shaped the story around an art school because I know what it’s like to attend a conservatory, to uncover the truth of your art, who you are as an artist, and who you are as a person. If you’re closed off, you probably won’t become the most versatile actor.”
In “Insidious: The Red Door,” director Patrick Wilson brings his personal experiences as a student at a conservatory to shape the story set in an art school. By delving into the exploration of one’s true self and the balance between light and darkness, Wilson creates a compelling narrative that resonates with young artists. With talented actress Sinclair Daniel portraying the role of Chris, the film presents a multi-faceted character who serves as the audience’s guide, providing comic relief and support to the protagonist, Dalton. Through the challenges posed by an intimidating professor, the story takes viewers on a thrilling journey into The Further, where Dalton confronts his deepest fears. Wilson’s understanding of the transformative nature of artistic development and the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone shines through, making “Insidious: The Red Door” a captivating addition to the franchise.
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