Just when we thought that haunted house movies might not have anything particularly new to offer, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell — in an effort to break from the “torture porn” reputation Saw cursed them with — introduced Insidious in 2011. One of the best horror movies in recent memory (in my opinion), the refreshingly unique and truly frightening story of malevolent spirits somehow connected to a couple's son and his mysterious, coma-like ailment was one of the most profitable surprise hits of its time, spawning a franchise that will continue with Insidious: The Red Door.
With more than a decade having passed since the original’s release and four installments already in the bag, even those who may agree the Insidious movies are among the best horror movie franchises of all time might believe we have seen enough of the Further. However, when they hear all the most essential facts that we know about the sequel -- which, according to Collider -- was formerly titled Insidious: Fear the Dark -- it just might become one of the upcoming horror movies they anticipate the most. We shall start with when this latest nightmare begins.
What Is The Insidious: The Red Door Release Date?
Out of all the horror films on the 2023 movies schedule, the one I am personally looking forward to the most might be Insidious: The Red Door, which, according to Deadline, will release on Friday, July 7, 2023, and is leading a huge month for releases.
July 2023 will also feature highly anticipated blockbusters like the latest of the Mission: Impossible adventures, The Marvels (Nia DaCosta’s Captain Marvel sequel), and director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. However, Insidious: The Red Door will not have any horror movies to compete with, unless you count the potential horrors in Christopher Nolan’s World War II era biopic, Oppenheimer.
Insidious: The Red Door Reunites Original Insidious Cast Members
It has been a decade since we last saw the original Insidious cast star in an installment of this long-running horror franchise, but that is all about to change when the latest sequel is released. In addition to Ty Simpkins coming back as Dalton Lambert, Patrick Wilson — who would further his Scream King status by playing Ed Warren in the Conjuring Universe — is reprising the role of Josh, along with Emmy nominee Rose Byrne as his wife, Renai.
The Insidious: The Red Door cast also includes a few newcomers to the franchise, as Deadline reported. Sinclair Daniel (known best for guest appearances on TV shows like Madam Secretary and The Good Fight) makes her feature-length, theatrically released debut as Dalton's friend, Chris, alongside Peter Dager from Nickelodeon’s WITS Academy as a fraternity member named Nick. Hiam Abass — known for Steven Spielberg’s Munich, Blade Runner 2049, Hulu’s reimagining of Hellraiser, and the Succession cast — also stars as Dalton's art professor.
Familiar Faces (Some Friendly, Some Freaky) Appear In The Insidious: The Red Door Trailer
The first official trailer for Insidious: The Red Door -- which was recently given an expected PG-13 rating, according to ComicBook.com -- is packed with everything that fans of the franchise could want. We see the reunion of the Lambert family, a cameo by Scream Queen Lin Shaye as Elise Rainier, the return of the Lipstick Face Demon (Joseph Bishara), and a needledrop of Tiny Tim’s “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” which has haunted horror fans since its appearance in the first film. Experience it all by watching the full teaser below:
Beginning with a flashback to the end of Insidious: Chapter 2, when Josh and his son, Dalton, chose to repress their knowledge of the Further, the trailer appears to reveal that the father and son (who are apparently not so close anymore) have since been struggling with their memory. That would explain their bewilderment in the face of the horrifying visions they begin to suffer, even though they are not much different from the terrifying situation that once plagued their family. How they rectify this new wave of otherworldly malevolence has yet to be revealed.
Insidious: The Red Door Sees A College-Age Dalton Haunted By His Past
The last couple of installments of the franchise — while still linked to the original with Scream Queen Lin Shaye reprising her role as Elise Rainier — diverted from the story of the Lambert Family. Well, as details from Deadline confirm, The Red Door will be a direct follow-up to 2013’s Insidious: Chapter 2.
It also looks like the character of Dalton will have a bigger role this time than he did in the original, in which the unwitting astral-projectionist traveled too far into the Further, leaving his physical body in a comatose state. The new film sees the young man attending college, where he will encounter the evil entities that tormented him and his family years before. Considering the second installment ended with him and Josh, repressing their abilities to have out-of-body experiences, it appears that Dalton is in for a horrifying surprise.
Patrick Wilson Makes His Directorial Debut With Insidious: The Red Door
One member of the Insidious: The Red Door cast is pulling double duty by also running things from behind the camera. Also according to Deadline, the film sees Patrick Wilson making his debut as a director.
In fact, the Emmy nominee (for his breakout role as Joe Pitt on the acclaimed HBO miniseries, Angels in America) has never even helmed a short film or TV episode prior to signing on to direct a new installment of a franchise he is a veteran of. However, having worked with James Wan and other experienced horror filmmakers enough times might have given him the experience he needs to be a worthy successor to Wan, Leigh Whannell, and Insidious: The Last Key director, Adam Robitel.
Franchise Creators James Wan And Leigh Whannell Produce Insidious: The Red Door
Speaking of Wan and Whannell, while neither are involved with Insidious: The Red Door as directors this time, they have signed on to the project as producers, as the Deadline article about Wilson directing confirms. The Upgrade and Invisible Man director is also credited for writing the story for the sequel, while Halloween Kills and 2022’s Firestarter scribe, Scott Teems, handled the screenplay.
Also given producing credits are four men who have been involved with the franchise since the beginning. Jason Blum of Blumhouse fame and Oren Peli — creator of the Paranormal Activity movies franchise — are producing, along with executive producers Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Steven Schneider.
Principal Photography Wrapped On Insidious: The Red Door In August 2022
As we have previously established, the wait for Insidious: The Red Door will not last much longer. In fact, according to Bloody-Disgusting, the film has already been finished with principal photography since the late summer of 2022.
Director and star Patrick Wilson confirmed on his Instagram that it was “lights out on our next installment of the Insidious franchise” in August. As of now, the film remains in post-production.
I have been curious about what became of the Lamberts since the end of Insidious: Chapter 2 and I am happy that we will know soon. I am also intrigued that this new chapter is the vision of one of the franchise’s most famous stars. We will see how well Patrick Wilson delivers the scares with Insidious: The Red Door, soon.
