Decoding the Ending of 'Insidious: The Red Door': Are the Lambert Family Truly Out of Danger?

Article Summary

Insidious: The Red Door concludes the story of the Lambert family, addressing the unresolved issues from the past and giving them closure.

The film delves into the perils of astral projection and the repercussions it brings upon Dalton and his family. The conclusion alludes to potential future narratives within the Insidious franchise, creating space for potential sequels or spin-offs.

While the fifth installment in the Insidious horror franchise, Insidious: The Red Door, marks a decade since our last encounter with the Lambert family, it is important to note the events that transpired in the previous films. Insidious: Chapter Two, released in 2013, concluded with the family making a crucial decision. It was deemed best to subject both Josh (portrayed by Patrick Wilson) and Dalton (played by Ty Simpkins) to hypnosis, erasing any recollection of the harrowing experiences they encountered in the ghostly depths of The Further. This decision was made in light of Josh's possession and subsequent attempt to harm Dalton with a hammer. Following the release of the prequel spin-offs, Insidious: Chapter 3 in 2015 and Insidious: The Last Key in 2018, the long-awaited sequel, The Red Door, finally provides closure for the Lambert family, potentially serving as a farewell. To discover how The Red Door wraps up the Lambert's tale, continue reading to uncover the mysteries hidden behind this enigmatic threshold.

Insidious: The Red Door

The Lamberts must delve deeper into The Further than ever before in order to finally lay their demons to rest.

Release Date: July 7, 2023

Director: Patrick Wilson

Cast: Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor

Rating: PG-13

Main Genre: Horror

Where Does 'Insidious: The Red Door' Pick Up?

A decade later, the effects of their memory erasure through hypnosis have led to difficulties within the family dynamic. Josh and Renai have divorced, and a rift has formed between Josh and Dalton. Both individuals are haunted by a lingering haziness in their minds and a sense that they each hold undisclosed secrets from their past. As Dalton prepares to embark on his college journey, Josh offers to drive him to school, but their attempts to reconnect prove to be a struggle. Soon after, as father and son part ways, they both begin to experience inexplicable visions. Josh finds himself being followed by a mysterious figure, and Dalton encounters unexplainable beings. However, with the guidance of his new roommate Chris, Dalton discovers his ability to astral project.

After dropping off Dalton at college, Josh confesses the need to clear his mind. Despite a distressing visit to a neurologist yielding no answers, the doctor suggests delving into his family's mental health history. Unfortunately, obtaining this information becomes challenging since Josh's mother recently passed away. To enhance his cognitive abilities, Josh practices some mental exercises in his late mother's house. However, while doing so, he is startled by a stranger crashing through a window and pursues him upstairs into his mother's room. Mysteriously, the stranger vanishes, leaving behind a box in her closet containing information about Josh's father. In it, he discovers that his father was institutionalized due to schizophrenia, astral projection claims, and various other issues that ultimately led to his suicide by jumping off the institution's roof. Disturbed by this revelation, Josh decides to visit Renai, worrying that he might have inherited his father's problems and concerned about Dalton's well-being as well. Renai reassures him, explaining that ten years ago, the family collectively decided to have both Josh and Dalton undergo hypnosis for their benefit.

Meanwhile, at college, Dalton's experiments with astral projection become perilous when he realizes that it allows demons to enter the real world. In an art class, Dalton unintentionally cuts his hand, causing blood to stain a drawing of a door that he had previously created. Unsure of its significance, Dalton suspects it relates to a forgotten year of his life. As he continues working on his art project, he adds a blurry image of a man holding a hammer. After contacting his brother Foster, Dalton comes to the realization that the man with the hammer is their father, and this is not a fabrication but an actual memory.

What Happens to Josh and Dalton at the End of 'Insidious: The Red Door'?

Once again, Dalton experiences astral projection and finds himself in the past, specifically reliving the events that occurred at the end of Insidious: Chapter 2. This was the terrifying moment when his possessed father tried to harm his own family. However, this time, Dalton is trapped by The Red Face Demon, who chains him up, leaving Chris to confront a possessed Dalton in the real world. Fortunately, Josh also enters the astral plane to rescue his son. Using the same hammer, Josh breaks Dalton's chains and explains that it wasn't him acting horrifically in the past, but rather, he was possessed, just like Dalton is now. Together, they make an effort to escape from The Further. As they close the door behind them, leaving the monstrous entities in retreat, Josh instructs Dalton to continue without him while he holds back The Red Face Demon by keeping the door shut. Dalton leaves his father behind and returns to his physical body.

As the door begins to deteriorate, Josh observes that it is slowly being coated with paint. He quickly realizes that Dalton is responsible for this and, in the real world, Dalton has returned to his normal state, painting the door black in an effort to save his father. With the door temporarily closed, Josh walks away but stumbles upon the intruder who had broken into his mother's house - his own father, who warmly greets him. After sharing a poignant moment together, Josh retrieves a light and heads back to his physical body. Meanwhile, Dalton and Chris examine the door covered in black paint, contemplating their options. Chris suggests burning the painting, but Dalton disagrees, understanding that ignoring the past will not provide a solution. Instead, he emphasizes the importance of remembering the past and moving forward from it.

What Do the End Credits of 'Insidious: The Red Door' Mean?

The following day, Josh departs from Renai's residence. She suggests that he come earlier in the upcoming week to fetch the kids so that they can all enjoy a family dinner. As Josh makes his way back to his car, he is filled with optimism at the prospect of reuniting as a family. However, waiting by his vehicle is Elise, whom the possessed Josh had killed in the first Insidious movie. While Josh recognizes her, he cannot place her identity. Elise reveals that she is a friend of Josh's mother and Josh expresses his desire to share so much with his mother. Elise assures him that his mother will know and that he will have the opportunity to tell her someday. Josh gets into his car, glances back, and realizes that Elise has vanished.

Meanwhile, Dalton is adding the final touches to a painting when Josh enters the room. They warmly embrace and confess their love for each other. As the scene fades out, we witness the transformation of the previously blacked-out door painting into an image showcasing a younger Dalton being rescued by Josh from the darkness of The Further, guided by a lantern to find their way. This poignant final moment illustrates that despite the surrounding darkness, the father and son will navigate their way out together.

Following the satisfying conclusion, there is a subtle suggestion of potential future developments. The flickering light above the red door serves as another brief glimpse, leaving open the possibility of further narratives within this world. Whether it poses a foreboding threat for someone in the future or harbors further tales, only time will reveal.

Rent Insidious: The Red Door on Amazon Prime Video now, or stream it on Netflix starting from November 4.

Rent on Prime Video

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have mixed feelings about the ending of "Insidious: The Red Door." On the one hand, I appreciate the closure it provides to the Lambert family's story. After years of being tormented by supernatural forces, they finally seem to have found peace. On the other hand, I feel like the ending leaves too many unanswered questions. What will happen to Dalton now that he knows the truth about his family's past? Will Josh be able to overcome his mental health issues? I would have liked to see these questions addressed more fully.

Overall, I think "Insidious: The Red Door" is a solid conclusion to the "Insidious" franchise. It provides a satisfying ending to the Lambert family's story while leaving enough room for potential future sequels or spin-offs. I would recommend it to fans of the franchise and horror movies in general.