My scores:

Horror/Mystery/Thriller: 7.5 Movie Overall: 6.0



LIKES:

Characters Story Creep Factor

Dislikes: Dropped plot points Anticlimactic Ending Missing Trailer scenes

Summary: A fourth installment usually means a low-quality movie that is strictly for merchandising and money making. However, Insidious 4, while not the best of the series, keeps the tradition of horror storytelling alive by focusing on plot and character development rather than just plain old scares that the genre is famous for. Elise's backstory is fascinating, and helps connect some elements that were once shrouded in the mists of the unknown, and is presented nicely as past is integrated with present. In addition, while not the scariest, the group does a fantastic job utilizing shadows, make-up, and sound editing to establish a creep factor that will keep you on edge. All of this come together to make a nice mystery/horror that is worthy of the series. Yet, the fourth installment still has its flaws primarily in the scare tactics, (e.g. jump scare tactics) have gotten old despite their attempts to tune it up. In addition, the plot had some dropped and rushed elements, alongside an anticlimactic wrap up, that took away from the story overall. In addition, there are a lot of scenes from the trailers missing, some of which really could have added on to the story, or allowed for more creepy makeup to be used. Overall, this movie is a solid entry in the series and answers some of those lingering questions we have had since the whole prequel component was started. Yet, it does establish new questions and drops on the finish that could have really made the story exponentially better. And while the scare tactics are getting somewhat stale, Insidious is at least managing to keep things creepy and relevant to a point instead of just a super scare fest that this genre is famous for. It's worth a trip to the theater for the franchise fans, however, you can wait this out for the home cinema to save yourselves money.

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Insidious Four: The Last Key: Still a prequel to the Lambert adventures but this time Elise Rainer goes back to where it all began - the house where she was raised and first encountered otherworldly entities. With Specs and Tucker in tow she has to deal with a troublesome ghost which is driving the present owner of the house crazy.

The contemporary action is interspersed with flashbacks to Elise's childhood, the strange death of her mother and her teenage years when she finally fled from her abusive father. There is far more than haunting going on in the house and a serial killer is uncovered as the malevolent spirit continues to persecute Elise. Elise has a difficult reunion with the brother she abandoned 50 years ago and his daughters also come under attack from the demon. Other demons have to be faced up to as the true story of her younger life is revealed.

Some shocks, a bit of gore, good special effects and a coherent script lined with a vein of humour makes this a solid Horror Film. 7/10

It took me a while to watch 'Insidious' and its follow ups, with so much going on with my studies and commitments and with an ever growing watch and review list. Decided to finally watch them all, with the intent of reviewing the latest film as part of my quest to see as many 2018 films as possible and wanting to see how it compared with the previous outings. Also with an appreciation, if not quite undying love, for horror.

Although there are people who understandably dislike it, found myself enjoying the first 'Insidious'. It didn't blow me away but it was well made and genuinely scary. So watched 'Insidious: Chapter 2' hoping it would be as good. 'Insidious: Chapter 2' for me was watchable but not as good, and feel the same about the third instalment and this latest, and perhaps last, one. There are big drawbacks but there are good things here too.

First and foremost, 'Insidious: The Last Key' looks great, especially for horror films released in recent years (too many of which have looked like they were made on the schlocky cheap). It looks slick and stylish while having a spooky setting and suitably nightmarish lighting. The effects are also suitably eerie. Although a bit too obvious in spots, the music is hauntingly atmospheric.

Direction at times is competent and there are some genuine shocks and some creepy scares and dread. Some nice restraint here and there.

Acting is not bad at all, with the best assets being Lin Shaye's ghoulishly gusto-filled performance, something that was consistent throughout the whole franchise, and the interesting development and character of Elise.

Regrettably, 'Insidious: The Last Key' has drawbacks. It does lack tension and suspense all the way through and other scares are predictable, more silly than creepy and felt like throwing in as many horror elements as one can muster regardless of originality, parts feel recycled too. Some of the film is on the dull side, with it unlike the first three films taking the restraint of some of the early parts too far, which was more of a problem with the scares being infrequent and not as effective as before. The last third comes over as too silly and over-the-top, the suspense and dread diminishing and the lack of sense and stupidity increasing.

The latter parts of the previous three films also went over-the-top after being restrained at first, but not to this extent. Capped off by an ending that's cheesy, ridiculous and anti-climactic. There is very little new here or much to set it apart from what was seen before, being even more derivative than the first three entries which lacked originality too but not like this.

Script lacks tautness and has some humour that felt misplaced, overdone and jarring with everything else. Any attempts at twists were generally not surprising and ended up not being very plausible. Sense is not a strong suit here, the latter stages being at times convoluted.

In conclusion, definitely worth a watch but not one of those rewatchable all over films for me. 5/10 Bethany Cox