This latest installment in the Insidious series goes back to psychic medium Elise Rainier’s earlier days. The film provides welcome backstory on Elise and introduces the viewer to her family, while also giving fans greater insight into her past.
Insidious: The Last Key was directed by Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan). As with previous installments, Leigh Whannell penned the screenplay. James Wan, Oren Peli, and Jason Blum all returned to produce the latest and (presumably) final installment in the series.
While it’s not a perfect film, Insidious: The Last Key is a satisfying finale to the series that is likely to satiate fans. It gives us more of the same but with a much greater influence on Lin Shaye’s Elise this time around. Seeing as how Elise has emerged as a fan favorite character in the series, it’s hard to find fault in the decision to make this her story. And Shaye does not disappoint. She effortlessly carries the film while reminding fans precisely why we’ve come to love her.
If you’re looking for a great departure from the formula that has made the Insidious films so successful, you won’t find it here. But you will find a mostly enjoyable and often chilling outing that is well worth the price of a rental.
Jump scares abound in The Last Key but they are often used to startling effect and serve to amp up the tension to the point of being almost unbearable at times.
The effects are a mixture of practical and VFX work. Both are used skillfully and help to further the storyline. As we’ve come to expect from an Insidious film, there are plenty of creatures and things that go bump in the night to ogle.
The performances are mostly effective. Lin Shaye is as good as ever. Caitlin Gerard and Spencer Locke are both equally effective as the daughters of Elise’s estranged brother. Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson were the weakest point for me. Their repeated banter and perpetual awkwardness is wearing a little thin at this point. And that type of gimmick really only carries so far. It would have been nice to have gotten a little more from them this time around. They certainly didn’t derail the picture, but they didn’t do a lot to elevate it, either.
The ending nicely ties into the first film and really brings the franchise full circle. I like the way it bridged the often confusing timeline and completed Elise’s character arc. Director Adam Robitel (The Taking of Deborah Logan) has improved over the series ho-hum third installment and assured us that he is still a force to be reckoned with.
Insidious: The Last Key is a must see for fans of the franchise. For those not familiar with the films, this probably isn’t a great place to start. But it’s definitely worth a look if you’re caught up on the series. You can get your copy now on DVD, Blu-ray, and DigitalHD. The home video release includes a barrage of special features and bonus content, ranging from deleted scenes and an alternate ending to featurettes and much more.
WICKED RATING: 6.5/10
Director(s): Adam Robitel
Writer(s): Leigh Whannell
Stars: Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, and Angus Sampson
Release: April 3, 2018 (Home Video)
Studio/ Production Co: Blumhouse
Budget: $10 Million (estimated)
Language: English
Length: 1 Hour 43 minutes
Sub-Genre: Supernatural
