5.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A demonic entity attempts to unleash chaos into the world of the living.
Starring: Ty Simpkins, Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Andrew Astor, Hiam AbbassHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 33% |
Thriller | 25% |
Mystery | 14% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Thai: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Thai
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, C (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Horror doesn't follow typical movie genre rules. The number of mainstream franchises that have made it to a fifth entry in the series? Very small. The number of horror franchises that have made it to a fifth film? Ooph. Friday the 13th, Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street leap to mind immediately, but why stop there? Hellraiser, Scream, Child's Play, Alien, Saw, Evil Dead, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Final Destination, The Exorcist, Romero's Living Dead series, Psycho... *inhales deeply*... James Wan's Conjure-verse, Resident Evil, The Omen, Tremors, Wrong Turn, The Purge, Lake Placid (of all things), Critters, Leprechaun, Amityville, V/H/S, Phantasm, Puppet Master, I Spit on Your Grave, Paranormal Activity... huff, huff, huff... and a slew of others. The latest? Insidious: The Red Door, a limp fiver if there ever was one, and there are quite a few. The story drags, the mythos is wearing thin, the scares are hollow, and the drive to set up the next sequel is greater than the drive to create a new franchise show-stopper. It isn't terrible, but then again, it isn't terribly good either.
Sony serves up an excellent 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation that stands as the clear highlight of The Red Door's Blu-ray release. Colors alternate between natural, lifelike hues and cold, stylized, otherworldly blues anytime reality gives way to The Further. Primaries remain strong and vivid regardless, black levels are suitably stark, the image's filmic field of grain is consistent but unobtrusive, and contrast is dialed in precisely, staying true to Autumn Eakin's cinematography at every turn. Detail is terrific as well, with refined textures, crisp edge definition and exacting clarity. Shadow delineation doesn't disappoint (other than when its meant to be oppressive and less than revealing) and I didn't detect any significant banding, artifacting or other anomalies. The one way The Red Door could feasibly look any better was if it were available in 4K. Sony has elected to go the 1080p-only route, though, which isn't all that frustrating considering the quality of the sequel's HD presentation.
The Blu-ray release of Insidious: The Red Door also features a killer DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Dialogue is clean, clear and carefully centered (when it isn't being represented throughout the soundfield), spooky Further voices drift in and out of the rear speakers with creepy ease, and the mix does more heavy lifting in terms of atmosphere than the film manages. Dynamics are top notch, as is directionality, a key quality in high quality horror sound design. Low-end power brings plenty of weight and heft to scarier moments as well, and there isn't any prioritization issues to speak of. Nothing overpowers, nothing underwhelms or overwhelms, nothing leaves the listener wanting. Sure, it isn't a Dolby Atmos monster, but as lossless Master Audio tracks go, The Red Door excels.
Insidious: The Red Door is a forgettable franchise sequel that doesn't offer enough chills or scares to justify its existence. It sort of slowly haunts the screen, whispering eerie nothings and occasionally shouting "boo" without ever imbuing its hauntings with any real ferocity. Sony's Blu-ray release at least boasts an impressive AV presentation, although meatier supplemental content might have gone a long way. Why no commentary from Insidious star turned firsttime director Patrick Wilson? Ah well. If you love the series you might, might find something to enjoy in The Red Door. But chances are fans will be even more disappointed than I was.
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Unrated Director's Cut
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