Year of Release: 2018
Director: Adam Robitel
Starring: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson, Kirk Acevedo, Caitlin Gerard, Spencer Locke, Josh Stewart, Tessa Ferrer, Aleque Reid, Ava Kolker, Pierce Pope, Bruce Davison
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Watch it on Amazon
Synopsis and Review:
The Insidious franchise has found its anchor character, not on the Lambert family, which was the focus of the first two films, but instead on psychic Elise Rainier and her two accomplices, Specs and Tucker. These trio of characters was central to "Insidious: Chapter 3" and now to "Insidious: The Last Key". The film takes us to Elise's childhood in New Mexico, and how her powers manifested in her household. At the time, Elise and her younger brother, were living with their parents in a house which was part of the prison establishment of that area, since her father was the ward. Her father was strongly against Elise's "perceptions", and punished her severely, unlike her mom who was always quite supportive. After the passing of her mom, Elise eventually flees her household, due to her father's abuse, leaving her brother behind. After all these years, Elise gets a call from someone asking for help in her hometown, something she initially refuses, until she realizes the person is living in her former childhood home. She decides to go back with her team, to solve those hauntings, and finally address her own childhood demons that still populate her nightmares.
Actor/Writer/Producer/Director Leigh Whannell, has continued to expand the "Insidious" franchise, with a flurry of stories stemming from the cases investigated by Elise Rainier. Whannell of course made his name by creating the "Saw" franchise, but "Insidious" is a close second in terms of reach and popularity. The films are low budget and always manage to provide substantial returns, which always validates their return. The narrative arc however is starting to lose momentum, and this fourth film is a testament to the fact that the freshness and originality of the first film, is now starting to give way to a formula that is not very rewarding. As we get to witness the humble beginnings of Elise, we never really know much about who she actually is, aside from her gifts, and how she uses them. Whannell seems to forget that in order for the scares to be effective, the characters that are haunted have to have some dimension to them (the same going for the supporting characters). The strangeness of the creatures that populates this universe is still interesting, but it's now borderline devoid of any relevance, since the narratives in which they exist, are so threadbare. Director Adam Robitel mostly illustrates and keeps the cadence of what James Wan brought forth in the first installments, without much originality or distinctiveness. Lin Shaye and Bruce Davison manage to keep the film watchable, but as these progress the reason to pay attention is dwindling.
Actor/Writer/Producer/Director Leigh Whannell, has continued to expand the "Insidious" franchise, with a flurry of stories stemming from the cases investigated by Elise Rainier. Whannell of course made his name by creating the "Saw" franchise, but "Insidious" is a close second in terms of reach and popularity. The films are low budget and always manage to provide substantial returns, which always validates their return. The narrative arc however is starting to lose momentum, and this fourth film is a testament to the fact that the freshness and originality of the first film, is now starting to give way to a formula that is not very rewarding. As we get to witness the humble beginnings of Elise, we never really know much about who she actually is, aside from her gifts, and how she uses them. Whannell seems to forget that in order for the scares to be effective, the characters that are haunted have to have some dimension to them (the same going for the supporting characters). The strangeness of the creatures that populates this universe is still interesting, but it's now borderline devoid of any relevance, since the narratives in which they exist, are so threadbare. Director Adam Robitel mostly illustrates and keeps the cadence of what James Wan brought forth in the first installments, without much originality or distinctiveness. Lin Shaye and Bruce Davison manage to keep the film watchable, but as these progress the reason to pay attention is dwindling.
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