Insidious: The Red Door (2023) is the fifth film in the Insidious franchise and the direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Directed by Patrick Wilson (marking his directorial debut), the movie serves as both a continuation and a conclusion to the Lambert family’s terrifying journey through “The Further.”
Detailed Summary
The Story Picks Up Where It Left Off
The movie begins nine years after the events of Insidious: Chapter 2. Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson) and his son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) are both struggling with the trauma of their shared past — though both had their memories of “The Further” suppressed by hypnosis. Josh and his wife Renai (Rose Byrne) are now divorced, and Dalton is heading off to college, hoping for a fresh start.
Dalton’s College Life and the Return of Memories
Dalton enrolls in an art program where his teacher encourages him to “dig deep” and express his subconscious through painting. During one of his classes, Dalton’s artwork triggers his repressed memories, and he begins drawing a disturbing red door — a recurring image tied to his childhood encounters with supernatural forces.
As his drawings become more disturbing, Dalton starts experiencing terrifying visions again, including shadowy figures and violent entities. He befriends a quirky student named Chris (Sinclair Daniel), who becomes his ally as the haunting intensifies.
Josh’s Struggles and the Haunted Past
Meanwhile, Josh is dealing with intense brain fog, depression, and memory loss, unsure why he feels disconnected from his son and plagued by strange occurrences. As he begins investigating his past, he finds old photos and files that point toward his family’s history with astral projection.
He visits his mother’s grave and meets a man who warns him about the dangers of “the other side.” Josh slowly realizes that the evil entities he once escaped from are trying to pull him back.
The Return to The Further
As Dalton’s memories continue to unravel, he realizes that the red door in his paintings is not symbolic — it’s real, and it’s the gateway to The Further. Determined to face his past, Dalton projects himself into The Further once again. There, he finds the horrifying Lipstick-Face Demon (the red-faced creature from the first film) still waiting.
Meanwhile, Josh also re-enters The Further to find and save his son, even though doing so puts his own life at risk. The two reunite inside the dark dimension, where they must confront their greatest fears.
Movie Ending (Spoilers Ahead)
Inside The Further, Dalton is trapped by the Lipstick-Face Demon, whose goal is to possess him again. Josh manages to find Dalton in the demon’s lair, a terrifying red-and-black room filled with flickering candles and screams echoing through the void.
In an emotional confrontation, Josh tells Dalton to leave while he stays behind, believing he can trap the demon and give his son a chance to escape. Dalton refuses, and the two fight their way back toward the red door. Dalton uses his art — a painting of the red door — as a way to “seal” it shut. He paints over it with black, symbolically locking the gateway and preventing the demons from crossing over.
Josh, exhausted and nearly consumed by The Further, sees an apparition of his late father, Ben Lambert, who tells him to let go of his guilt. This emotional moment gives Josh the strength to return to his body. Dalton wakes up in his dorm room, and for the first time, the two feel truly free from the haunting.
In the final scene, Josh visits Dalton’s art exhibit and sees the painting of the red door completely blacked out. Dalton and Josh share a quiet moment of understanding, symbolizing reconciliation and closure. The camera pans away, showing a faint flicker of red light — a subtle hint that The Further may never be entirely sealed.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Yes — there is a brief mid-credits scene. It shows the blacked-out painting of the red door suddenly flickering with a dim red glow, suggesting that the door — and The Further — may still exist somewhere, waiting to reopen. There are no additional scenes after the full credits.
Type of Movie
Insidious: The Red Door is a supernatural horror film with strong elements of psychological thriller and family drama. It’s both a terrifying haunting story and an emotional exploration of trauma, memory, and generational fear.
Cast
- Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert
- Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert
- Sinclair Daniel as Chris Winslow
- Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert
- Andrew Astor as Foster Lambert
- Hiam Abbass as Professor Armagan
- Lin Shaye as Elise Rainier (cameo appearance)
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Joseph Bishara, who also portrayed the Lipstick-Face Demon in the franchise. His haunting, discordant compositions play a huge role in building tension. The soundtrack leans heavily on eerie strings, unsettling drones, and the series’ signature metallic shrieks.
Filming Locations
The film was primarily shot in New York and New Jersey, with certain campus scenes filmed at SUNY Purchase College. The contrast between Dalton’s bright, realistic college setting and the dark, oppressive atmosphere of The Further emphasizes the duality between normal life and the supernatural realm.
Awards and Nominations
As of now, Insidious: The Red Door has not received major awards but performed well commercially, becoming the highest-grossing horror film of 2023 at the time of release. Critics praised Patrick Wilson’s direction and the emotional resolution to the Lambert family’s arc.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Patrick Wilson took the director’s chair for the first time, combining his deep understanding of the franchise with a personal, character-driven approach.
- Ty Simpkins returned to the franchise as an adult, making it his first time revisiting a childhood role.
- Joseph Bishara reprised his dual role as composer and the Lipstick-Face Demon.
- Some sequences in The Further were shot using practical fog and lighting effects rather than CGI, enhancing the film’s eerie realism.
Inspirations and References
The film continues to draw from the original Insidious mythology created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell, blending spiritual horror with psychological trauma. The idea of The Further is loosely inspired by sleep paralysis, out-of-body experiences, and astral projection myths.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
A few deleted scenes reportedly explored Dalton’s life at college more deeply, including early versions where he struggles to connect with classmates. There was also a slightly extended ending that showed Josh’s father’s spirit lingering longer, but it was cut for pacing.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film isn’t based on a novel but continues the story from the Insidious films. However, the Insidious: The Further comic series expands on some background stories — including entities that briefly appear in The Red Door.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Dalton’s painting of the red door, awakening the horrors of The Further.
- Josh finding the old photos that reignite his lost memories.
- The father-son rescue sequence inside The Further.
- The blacking-out of the red door — a symbolic and literal closure of the saga.
Iconic Quotes
- Dalton: “The Further isn’t just a dream. It’s a place. And it’s waiting.”
- Josh: “We have to close the door. Together.”
- Chris: “You’re telling me your family’s haunted, and that’s just… normal?”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- A drawing of Elise Rainier can be seen in Dalton’s sketchbook, referencing the psychic from the earlier films.
- Dalton’s art professor’s lecture about “subconscious repression” mirrors the franchise’s central theme of suppressed trauma.
- The Lipstick-Face Demon’s lair contains props from Insidious: Chapter 1, including the same lantern and rocking horse.
Trivia
- The movie was filmed in under two months on a modest budget but grossed over $180 million worldwide.
- Patrick Wilson said he used The Sixth Sense and The Exorcist as tonal references.
- The title The Red Door was chosen because Besson (the production designer) said, “The door has always been the franchise’s heartbeat.”
Why Watch?
Watch Insidious: The Red Door if you want a psychologically layered horror film that offers emotional closure for the Lamberts while still delivering genuine scares. It’s a satisfying end to one of the most iconic supernatural franchises of the 2010s, balancing terror, nostalgia, and heart.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Conjuring (2013)
- The Conjuring 2 (2016)
- Aquaman (2018)
- The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
