I am not a huge fan of the Horror genre. I was not a fan of the Saw films and typically avoid slasher type films. I do like Suspense and Thriller films, which often cross over into the Horror genre. The Insidious films find a balance between suspense and horror. I actually find these tolerable for the genre, although that should be taken with a grain of salt.
Elise Rainer (Lin Shaye) is a psychic that helps people deal with unsettled spirits. Hauntings. But she is also haunted by her own past. Her father (Josh Stewart) was a correctional officer at a prison in New Mexico. The family lived in a house inside the prison compound. Close enough that the lights flickered when there was an execution. Elise was punished mercilessly by her father, who did not understand her gifts. At sixteen, Elise fled home and never looked back. When she receives a call from a man (Ted, played by Kirk Acedvedo) who has moved into her childhood home, she is forced to face her childhood demons.
Elise heads to New Mexico, aided by her sidekicks Specs (Leigh Whannell, who wrote the screenplay) and Tucker (Angus Sampson). Specs and Tucker don't have any special gifts. They provide Elise with technical support. And a bit of comic relief. Tucker's weak pickup line is "she is psychic, we are sidekicks." It falls as flat as it sounds. The trip results in startling discoveries, an awkward family reunion and resolution of Elise's own haunted past.
Insidious: The Last Key relies more on a story than blood and guts to deliver suspense and horror. It is a delicate balance. There are a few tension building scenes that use the sudden appearance of ghouls to tilt the audience off balance. But the story is ultimately based in quasi reality. Unsettled spirits seek a psychic to help release them from their ghoulish bondage. Along with a demonic bad guy that must be vanquished, of course. The pacing was pretty good, although the story itself was a bit contrived. Not the spooky aspects as much as the back story. This film treads a fine line, giving enough spooky chills to be scary, without going overboard. It was only moderately frightening.
I don't have too much to say about the acting. It was okay. Shay, Whannell and Sampson have a nice chemistry, motherly maybe. You would think her "sidekicks" were her own sons. The performances were strong enough to complete the illusion, but nothing special. Kirk Acevedo stood out a bit. His role was a bit off kilter. Almost half spooked, half tweaker. Which makes sense given ultimate revelations in the plot. Films like this don't generally draw A list actors. But this crew did an adequate job.
At one hour, 43 minutes, Insidious: The Last Key was just long enough to maintain steady pacing. It was the right amount of time. The film is rated PG-13, based primarily on the fact it is a horror film. There are images that would be disturbing to young viewers. There is also some child abuse, some strong language, violence, and thematic elements. If kids are subject to nightmares, they should leave this film alone. It is not as scary as most horror films, but the imagery is intense enough to affect those already prone to nightmares. Otherwise, the film was pretty tame.
This is a tough film to give a recommendation to. If you are a fan of the Insidious franchise, you will likely love it, in spite of it being a fourth film in the series. If you are not a fan of the series, you may still find enjoyment in it. If you haven't seen the other films, it doesn't matter, it is a stand alone film that feels complete without the other backstory. It provides its own. The pacing was good, the scary moments decent, the acting tolerable, the script derivative, the special effects solid. I would give this film a mild recommendation. You can wait for it to stream for free. 6.5/10.