The reviews are divided, with a slight lean towards disappointment rather than a clear rejection. Praise clusters around individual scares: dental horror and a claustrophobic pillow-fort maze recur as examples of invention even in otherwise unfavourable notices. Several critics find enough energy in the set pieces to enjoy another visit to the Further, despite familiar plotting. Amelia Eve’s performance also earns praise, while The Wrap singles out the sound design for giving the scares depth.
The main disagreements concern how much those sequences compensate for thin characters, heavy exposition and franchise fatigue. Scores range from 30 to 75, reflecting a substantial split over much the same material. Collider welcomes an adventurous direction and an empowering story, though it finds the middle weak. The harsher reviews find tired mythology and predictable plotting, while even some supporters acknowledge that the storytelling becomes convoluted or loses momentum.
