Insidious: The Last Key – Movie Review

2017 was an amazing year for horror. One of the best in a very long time. Not only did fans get blown away by hits like “IT”, “Annabelle: Creation”, “Get Out” and “Split”, but there were also a ton of smaller horror titles that were taking over VOD.  2017 was the year of horror (which you could say about real life events too).  It is only fitting that the first wide release film of 2018 is the fourth installment in the hugely successful “Insidious” franchise.  “Insidious: The Last Key” is a sequel to a prequel which is more common than not now-a-days.  So how does the fourth film compare to the ones that preceded it?  Simply put, it is just OK.

Most horror sequels are forgettable rehashes of the originals, and for the most part, “The Last Key” is no exception.  However, there is one big difference, Lin Shaye. The veteran actress this time takes the lead and gives us her best performance to date.  Writer (and co-star) Leigh Whannell wisely gave her character Elise Rainier a backstory that is both painful and honest. Learning about where Elise came from is the strongest part of “The Last Key”

The problem with “The Last Key” is that it just isn’t that scary. Director Adam Robitel throws in as many jump scares as he can but they start to feel repetitive.  One of the key elements that I have enjoyed when it comes to this franchise is the humor supplied by Elise’s partners, Specs (Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson). They both get the best lines and it makes sense since one of them wrote the screenplay.

“The Last Key” wraps things up nicely to close out the franchise and I would be perfectly happy if it doesn’t continue-on after this. Unfortunately, because horror is so cheap to produce and this it pretty much guaranteed to make a profit in it’s opening weekend, I doubt that we have seen the last of “Insidious”.

By: Marc Ferman