Insidious 5 Directorial Debut: Patrick Wilson Channels Lessons from James Wan to Truly Captivate the Audience

Patrick Wilson recently discussed his upcoming directorial debut in Insidious: The Red Door. Having worked with horror icon James Wan in the past, Wilson shared the valuable lessons he learned from Wan. Wilson is reprising his role as Josh, the patriarch of the Lambert family, in this chilling installment. The film follows Josh and his son Dalton on a road trip to college, where they are confronted by the demons from their past, leading to a terrifying journey back into the Further. Joining Wilson and Ty Simpkins are returning cast members Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, and Andrew Astor. In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Wilson emphasized Wan's emphasis on character development and his ability to create scares by getting audiences emotionally invested in the story. Check out Wilson's insights below.

A few things, which may not even be directly related to horror. I appreciate how he takes great care in developing the characters before thrusting them into distress, allowing the audience to become emotionally invested. I can observe this pattern in all of his movies. This focus on character development is something I strive for, rather than rushing through to the scares. This valuable lesson was imparted to me by him.

Furthermore, he consistently urged me to make the film my own, not only to boost my confidence, but because he understands how deeply I respect the franchise. However, every shot, every take, every joke, and every scare is filtered through my own perception of what is cool, scary, funny, or emotional. By staying connected to the vision I have for the film, I can ensure its authenticity. This insight, too, I learned from him.

Why James Wan Is A Modern Horror Master

Since his debut with Saw nearly two decades ago, Wan has established himself as a prominent figure in the horror genre, often compared to icons like John Carpenter, Wes Craven, and George A. Romero. The success of the 2004 film led to a lucrative franchise, with Wan contributing to the story treatment for Saw III and serving as executive producer for the subsequent sequels, while allowing other directors to take the helm.

However, it was with Insidious in 2010 that Wan and frequent collaborator Leigh Whannell found their creative stride in modern horror. As Wilson mentioned, they shifted their focus to creating compelling characters that audiences could truly invest in, rather than solely relying on jump scares. Although the Lambert family only returned for the first sequel prior to The Red Door, audiences continued to flock to the Insidious movies, drawn by Lin Shaye's portrayal of Elise, a beacon of warmth in the shadowy depths of The Further.

Content: Wan demonstrated his skill in creating captivating characters in The Conjuring Universe. Fans of the horror genre became enamored with Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed by Wilson and Vera Farmiga, while also being terrified by their haunting cases. Following in Wan's footsteps, Wilson now takes on the responsibility of directing Insidious: The Red Door, just as Whannell did with Chapter 3 before achieving critical acclaim with Upgrade and The Invisible Man. It will be intriguing to observe how Wilson applies the valuable lessons learned from Wan in any of his future directorial projects.