Insidious – The Last Key functions as a prequel, revisiting the narrative of Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye). The story follows Elise as she is reluctantly drawn back to her childhood home. Upon arrival, she and her colleagues, Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson), discover that the malevolent entities from her youth persist and remain fixated on her.
Elise is in focus in this prequelLin Shaye delivers a compelling performance, serving as a primary strength of the film. The casting of a 74-year-old actress in a lead horror role is a noteworthy and refreshing choice. The opening segment, depicting a young Elise (played by Ava Kolker) and the initial investigation of the house, arguably provides the most genuinely unsettling moments. However, as the narrative progresses, revealing connections and introducing the central demon, the film’s intensity diminishes somewhat.
Melissa is in real trouble.Director Adam Robitel employs deliberate pacing, with some scenes extending considerably, but this approach proves effective in building tension. The script and direction exhibit moments of ingenuity, particularly a surprising plot twist in one sequence.
Elise and Tucker on a ghost hunt.However, the portrayal of Elise’s companions felt less convincing. Their comedic dynamic occasionally veered into caricature. While the humor is present, its reliance on stereotypical depictions of nerds and their interactions with women evokes a dated, early 1980s sensibility. Notably, Leigh Whannell, who portrays Specs, also penned the script.
The introduction of Elise’s nieces, Imogen (Caitlin Gerard) and Melissa (Spencer Locke), serves to inject younger characters into the narrative. However, their integration into the story feels somewhat forced. Through contrived circumstances, one becomes possessed, while the other inherits Elise’s psychic abilities, leading to a significant role in the film’s climax. A more substantial issue is that insufficient time is devoted to establishing these characters, diminishing the audience’s investment in their fate. The narrative resolution feels somewhat conservative, missing an opportunity to enhance the film’s dynamism. An alternative approach, involving a significant spoiler, is detailed at the end of this review, below the trailer. Readers are advised to proceed only after viewing the film.
Insidious – The Last Key represents the fourth installment in the franchise but, as mentioned, chronologically precedes the events of the first film, setting the stage for that storyline. The film expands on the overarching connections within the series and features appearances from familiar characters.
In conclusion, Insidious – The Last Key maintains a generally engaging pace. While certain sequences generate genuine suspense, the third act relies on more conventional horror tropes, resulting in a diminished sense of fear.
SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!
Do not read this if you do not want a large part of the film spoiled. Is everyone on board with that? Good, let’s go!
An alternative narrative approach for integrating the nieces more effectively would involve Christian (Bruce Davison), Elise’s brother, contacting her instead of Ted Garza (Kirk Acevedo). In this scenario, Christian, mirroring their father’s descent into madness, would be perpetuating a similar cycle of imprisoning and harming young women in the basement. This revised plotline would allow for earlier interactions with the nieces, providing a more emotionally resonant explanation for Elise’s departure from her childhood home and her abandonment of Christian. Furthermore, it would offer a more plausible explanation for the house’s unchanged state, addressing the current implausibility of it remaining exactly as it was during her childhood.
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