Closing out the long running series with a bang was always a tall order, but the Red Door manages a few good bangs and avoids the finale whimper that ends so many franchises.

The original Insidious premiered over a decade ago and has had some highs and quite a few mehs along the way. Through it all I’ve enjoyed the series for its craft and commitment to simple family stories.

The original followed a boy who could astral project into another dimension full of the souls of the dead and damned. Unfortunately a demon decided to take the boys body for his own. After many sequels the demon is back and afflicting the family once more.

This film doesn’t center the family. It follows dad Josh, played by director Patrick Wilson, and son Dalton, later by Ty Simpkins. They both can travel to the other dimension although they have had the memories of this ability suppressed. This suppression has lead to problems that splintered their family. As Dalton is going off to college his abilities have resurfaced without his knowledge. He brings the demons back for both him and his father.

The movie consists of Dalton at college experiencing ghouls and ghosts and Josh at home experiencing ghouls and ghosts. They get jumped by ghosts repeatedly. Sometimes these moments pay off in real jumps and jolts. Often it’s just a build up without a satisfying payoff.

The original was directed by James Wan a director skilled in spooky setups and payoffs. The man can craft a jump scare like few others. This film was directed by Patrick Wilson. This is his first time in the directors chair, and I can tell. He lingers on close ups too long. He also stars in the film and gives himself a few too many closeups. He manages the ominous tone really well. He has a couple great moments where he’s set up a frame in which an oblivious character is in the foreground and something is approaching slowly in the out of focus background. These are great moments, but over all the film lacks payoff. These slow burn moments don’t end in shattering jumps scares. The movie itself doesn’t end in a devastating climax. It just sort of ends.

Now I enjoyed the film. While watching it I was riveted and engaged and spooked. I had a lot of fun in the moment, but stepping away from it the cracks and the falters are a lot more apparent. It’s a solid little movie, but it’s not going to stick to you the way others in the series have.

It’s half a cup of tea for me. B