INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER

This story follows Gemma (Amelia Eve, Netflix's 'The Haunting of Bly Manor'). As a child, she witnesses her mother changing and watches her take her own life. Now a mother herself and still in her childhood home, Gemma begins experiencing strange paranormal occurrences. With the assistance of psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye, 'Ouija', 'My Sister's Keeper'), Gemma explores the Further and learns that she has the power to bring things back to the living world. However, a demonic presence knows of Gemma's gift, and wants to use it to bring the dead back to life!

'Insidious: Out of the Further' is a step up from the last entry in the franchise. The jump scares are creative, and the story is interesting. As an M-rated, jump-scare-filled horror film, you can do a lot worse than 'Out of the Further'; it's a perfectly serviceable horror film.

The film doesn't add much to the overall 'Insidious' canon and feels like it just adds a thin layer of 'Insidious' lore to vaguely fit into the universe. It's just a generic demon-based horror film loosely tied to a franchise. Even though the plot possesses an interesting idea - someone with the power to bring things from the further to our world - it feels half-baked and not explored to its fullest potential. That's true across the board, from the characters to the scares; everything feels half-done.

After 'The Red Door' tied up the Lambert family's story, the 'Insidious' franchise felt done, but 'Out of the Further', while not spectacular, is a step up for the series. It proves there is still something worth exploring in this franchise, even if the film didn't nail the landing.