Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)

Gemma is a young mother who discovers she can travel into the Further, a purgatorial realm of lost souls. When something evil comes after her, she realizes she can bring what lives there back to the real world. Once the demons realize her power, our world becomes their playground.

Before heading into Insidious: Out of the Further, there was a bit of discussion with friends about what we were letting ourselves in for. After five previous instalments, there was always the possibility that we would need to brush up on the Insidious mythology beforehand. Someone even joked that a spare pair of undies might be required by the time the credits rolled. Thankfully, neither a franchise refresher nor a change of underwear turned out to be absolutely necessary.

Insidious: Out of the Further is a film that understands exactly what its audience expects from this series. It delivers plenty of jumps, plenty of thrills, a strong dose of creepy atmosphere, and just enough gore to keep things feeling nasty without turning the experience into a full scale bloodbath.

After so many entries, a horror franchise can easily slip into autopilot. Fortunately, this instalment avoids that problem for the most part. It brings back the familiar ingredients that have made the series successful, while still offering enough new material to keep the story engaging.

One of the film’s greatest strengths is its grasp of what makes Insidious effective. This is not a movie that relies solely on blood and violence. Much of the tension comes from what remains unseen, the sense that something is lurking just out of sight, and the growing discomfort that the boundary between the real world and the Further is becoming dangerously thin.

There are plenty of jump scares throughout, and anyone familiar with the franchise will know to expect them. They are generally well placed and effective enough to get a reaction. Some are predictable in the best possible way. You can feel a scare approaching; you know something is about to happen, and yet when it arrives, it still manages to land.

The film also varies its approach to fear. Alongside the traditional jumps are genuinely unsettling sequences that rely more on atmosphere than sudden shocks. The Further remains a deeply disturbing supernatural realm, and the movie continues the franchise tradition of making it feel like a genuinely dangerous place rather than a simple haunted house backdrop.

A small amount of gore is included as well. It is not excessive, but it adds an extra layer to certain moments. For a franchise that has always leaned more toward supernatural horror and psychological tension, the balance feels appropriate.

The main antagonist is one of the more interesting aspects of the film. The character works well as the central threat, and the story provides enough backstory to understand his origins and motivations. The history involving the antagonist and his acolytes gives the film more substance than simply presenting another evil entity without context. It adds depth and makes the threat feel more meaningful.

This is something I appreciated. While the film is primarily a horror experience, there is enough narrative weight to keep you invested between the scares. The antagonist does not feel like a random monster inserted because the franchise needed a new villain. There is a reason behind his presence, and the additional history strengthens the story.

Perhaps the smartest choice the film makes is how it handles the franchise mythology. With five previous entries, newcomers might reasonably wonder whether they need to watch the entire series to understand what is happening. Fortunately, that is not the case. The film explains the concept of the Further clearly without turning the explanation into a lengthy lecture. New viewers can follow along, while returning fans can enjoy the familiar connections.

This balance is difficult to achieve in a long-running horror series. Too much explanation risks boring existing fans. Too little leaves newcomers confused. Out of the Further manages to sit comfortably in the middle.

For long-time fans, this feels like a welcome return to familiar territory. The Further remains one of the most recognisable elements of the franchise, and the film does not disappoint when it takes us back into that strange and unsettling world. It is also satisfying to see the mythology expand rather than simply repeat itself. The Further has always been one of the most intriguing concepts in the Insidious universe, and this film makes good use of it.

That said, Out of the Further is not trying to reinvent the horror genre. Anyone who has seen the previous films will have a good idea of the type of experience they are getting. There are jump scares, eerie supernatural imagery, unsettling noises, moments where characters wander into places they absolutely should avoid, and the occasional gruesome surprise.

Sometimes that is exactly what you want from a horror sequel. Not every movie needs to reinvent itself. Sometimes a franchise succeeds because it knows what its audience enjoys and delivers it effectively. Out of the Further is very much one of those films.

The atmosphere is another strong point. The movie understands that darkness and silence can be just as effective as showing the monster. There are many moments where you are waiting for something to appear, and that anticipation can be more uncomfortable than the scare itself.

The result is a film that offers a solid mixture of thrills, scares, creepiness and story. It does not rely on a single trick, which helps keep the pacing steady.

For fans of the franchise, the biggest compliment I can give is that it feels like an Insidious movie. It does not feel like someone borrowed the name and made an unrelated supernatural horror film. The connection to the Further, the mythology, the style of scares and the overall atmosphere all make it feel like a genuine continuation.

Most importantly, it does not make you feel like you needed to do homework before watching it. If you have seen the previous films, you will enjoy recognising familiar elements and seeing how the mythology evolves. If you have not, the movie explains its world clearly enough that you can jump straight in without feeling lost.

Overall, Insidious: Out of the Further is a solid addition to the franchise. It delivers plenty of jumps and thrills, includes some well-placed gore and creepy moments, and introduces an antagonist with enough depth to carry the story. The backstory surrounding him and his acolytes adds welcome substance, while the continued exploration of the Further gives longtime fans something familiar to enjoy.

It is unlikely to convert anyone who has never enjoyed the Insidious formula, but for those who have followed the series, it should hit the mark. It knows what it is, it knows what its audience wants, and it delivers.

And as for that spare pair of undies, it might still be worth packing them.

If you have enjoyed the Insidious movies before this one, Out of the Further is definitely worth heading back into the Further for. And if you have somehow avoided the previous five films, do not let that stop you. The movie explains its world clearly enough that you can jump in without feeling completely lost.

Insidious: Out of the Further is being released in NZ cinemas from 20 August 2026. Find your nearest tickets here

Review written by Jack Kemp