The sound design is suitably ominous and helps develop the regular scares throughout.
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The cinematography is effective: cinematographer Toby Oliver ( Get Out, 2017) uses shadows and darkness to good effect, if not in a wholly unique manner. This is an added convolution that is poorly acted and ghoulishly sucks dry the remaining dramatic tension. And then there is the confusing reunion Elise has with her estranged brother. The cheap laughs consume the film’s gravitas. It doesn’t sit comfortably with the fairly disturbing narrative of abuse and gendered violence that underpins everything. It is entertaining, but also quite distracting. Either way, Tucker and Specs are constantly cracking jokes and sleazy one-liners in amongst their slapstick schtick. Maybe he knew he had a lemon of an idea maybe he decided that he’d not yet paid homage to Ghostbusters. Whannell has dialled the comedy right up to “forced” for this instalment. While there are a few surprise twists in The Last Key, they can’t help the plot escape a bad script. But these positives are quickly exorcised elsewhere. Kirk Acevedo provides the strongest performance even if his character is the least original part of the film. Javier Botet gives his usual creepy performance and it adds some atmosphere to the film. Her reunion with the long-lost brother, played by Bruce Davison, is tepid and forced and the dialogue involved is terrifyingly cliche. Lin Shaye is passable when she’s entering The Further and taking on ghosts and demons, but she just doesn’t have the charisma to drive a feature film. Whannell and Sampson bring some comic relief, but their acting is pretty rough. None of the previous films had great acting, but this is firmly in the B-zone. Cheesy family drama, predictable flashbacks, and mediocre paranormal jump scares ensue. She’s guilty about the unfinished business she’s left behind in her home. Ted Garza (Kirk Acevedo) has taken up residence at her old family home and when he contacts her about being haunted, she volunteers to help him. Eventually, Elise escapes and begins her life anew, but 50-odd years later something drags her back home. He keeps his wife and young son living together in terror. Her father Gerald (played by a permanently scowling and disinterested Josh Stewart) is an abusive prison guard. Elise comes from a violent and emotional wrenching childhood. No rescue journey into The Further can save this from being an uninspired mess. Unfortunately, Insidious: The Last Key has been possessed by a desire to balance demonic possession, Ghostbusters-esque humour, and moving family drama. Yes, the third film was more than a little weak, but not terrible.
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Patrick Wilson always provided some solid dramatic chops that grounded the films, and the random moments of humour were balanced.
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Whannel’s first three films balanced scares and drama relatively well. Let’s be honest, there has never been anything hugely original about the Insidious series, but it did reinvigorate the poltergeist genre. What could have been a fun date-night fright fest ends up taking itself far too seriously. Adam Robitel does a workman-like job of stitching together some effective jump scares, but Whannell’s script is all over the place.
#INSIDIOUS THE LAST KEY MOVIE RELEASE DVD SERIES#
Yes, the series has ventured into prequel territory. This time they’re returning to Elise’s childhood home in Five Keys, New Mexico. In it, psychic Elise Rainer (Lin Shaye) returns along with her paranormal investigator sidekicks, Specs (Leigh Whannell) and Tucker (Angus Sampson). Insidious: The Last Key is the fourth instalment in Blumhouse’s beloved possession franchise. Starring: Lin Shaye, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Spencer Locke, Caitlin Gerard and Bruce Davison Produced by Jason Blum, Oren Peli and James Wan Universal presents a film by Adam Robitel Reviewed by Pat Condliffe on the 7th of February 2018