The Wasteland Reviewer

Insidious: Out of the Further (2026) Written Review

What should you expect from the sixth entry in a horror franchise? Honestly…not much. Many iconic horror franchises have gone on way too long and are just trying to make some money based on the goodwill garnered by the early entries in the franchise. Not every franchise can be Scream or Evil Dead. But one of the most popular franchises of the past 15 years has been Insidious. One of the handful of horror franchises launched by the efforts of James Wan, Insidious has reached that point of diminishing returns as the sixth entry of the franchise arrives with Out of the Further. No Patrick Wilson or James Wan to be seen; this is a bit of a new diversion in the creepy realm of The Further. 

Does writer/director Jacob Chase deliver a worthwhile story in the world that Wan and Leigh Whannell have brought to life? From the surface, this seems like a completely detached entry from the rest of the franchise, but the events of The Red Door open the door (your welcome) for this twisted tale to take place. The cold open delivers a haunting mini story of its own full of a poor young girl having to grow up too fast because her mother is a tortured and unhinged soul. This is the origins of the protagonist of Out of the Further, Gemma. Nothing fancy or unique but this opening instantly builds empathy for our protagonist who is now a single mother living in her childhood home. The audience easily understands that she wants to do anything not to turn out to be like her mother and create generational trauma for her own daughter. Although expected, the tragic backstory turns out to be deeply connected with The Further and Gemma’s ability to be a Carrier (one who can bring anything back and forth to The Further). As the film progresses, it does spiral into a bigger, more convoluted fantastical horror narrative with all types of shenanigans (which have their charm even if they feel a little tired after six films). Creepy old cultists, a variety of grotesque ghosts, and undead cult leader who wants to bring about the apocalypse. You even have a ghostly Elise Rainier back to mentor and guide Gemma with her newfound powers. Gemma has a few supporting players in her life (her boyfriend and a young woman who is a vessel for Elise) but they don’t get a lot of depth to them. The finale certainly feels like a superhero vs demon story. But at least the heart of the story is still rooted in a deeply affecting relationship between mothers and their daughters. 

What element of the film gives it a nice bit of life? Chase for sure. A flawed yet scary film called Come Play put Chase on the map during the Pandemic and it is exciting to see him get the reins of such a famous and rich franchise. There is plenty to work with when it comes to the lure surrounding The Further. Chase continues to make this eerie space one that unnerves you and gives you goosebumps. There are plenty of dark, twist, and repulsive designs for the sea of ghosts that are introduced throughout the film. There are some inspired filmmaking flourishes as well that will grab your attention. Cinematographer David Garbett delivers a handful of dynamic and evocative shots (mostly centered around eyes) that are quite inspired. There are a few strong set pieces full of scares that stand out even if the film is not as consistently scary as some of the early entries in the franchise. The pillow fort sequence is the crown jewel and there are a few moments revolving mouths and teeth that will make your skin crawl. Making your protagonist in a horror film a dentist certainly opens the door for some fun. The music is rich as ever as franchise composer Joseph Bishara is back in the saddle once again. Paced well, the film never slows too much, and those 100 minutes of runtime never feel like it is too long. 

How does the cast navigate this eerie tale? Amelia Eve is saddled with being the female protagonist of a horror film and she is solid. The performance might not be the most memorable (and certainly doesn’t stand up to some excellent horror performances from earlier this year) but she sells what she needs when the film asks. The real standouts of the film are the two young girls who portray young Gemma (Charli Penton) and her daughter (Island Austin). A lot is asked of them throughout this film (especially seeing their on-screen mothers going through such a dark descent. It is always great seeing Lin Shaye popping back up again in an Insidious film even if she is quite a small part this time around. Sam Spruell (with standout performances on Fargo and Knight of the Seven Kingdoms recently) gets to portray the big bad of the film. The character does have a ton of depth or characterization, but Spruell injects plenty of eerie and unnerving presence which works well for the film. Brandon Perea and Maisie Richardson-Sellers are those supporting players in Gemma’s life but don’t get enough to work with to make that much of an impression. But special shoutout to the casting of the three creepy old cultists as well as all the ghosts. They needed to be creepy and scary…they all delivered in spades.

Is Insidious: Out of the Further a pleasant surprise for a late franchise sequel? A little bit for sure. There is a genuine heart and strong thematic core about mother/daughter connections, generational trauma, and grief. There are a few set pieces that deliver horror goods. Most of the cast are rock solid. Not quite as scary as it could be and many overly familiar beats that feel tired bring it down. There is also a tough imbalance of a serious film and the pulpy nature of this concept. But Chase delivers a rock-solid entry in the Insidious franchise and that is certainly something.