Critics’ reviews

Insidious: Out of the Further (2026)

13 reviews from 13 publications. Critics’ score 52: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 6 negative.

Back to our review of Insidious: Out of the Further

52
Positive
5
Mixed
2
Negative
6

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.

The AV Club
19 August 2026 · B- · Jesse Hassenger
70

Despite a mostly routine story and uninteresting new characters after many franchise entries, the film feels like a robust reconstitution of the formula with terrific set pieces. It singles out the lively, ghoul-packed finale and a merry reunion of past jump-scare demons for praise.

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Variety
19 August 2026 · Tomris Laffly
70*

Director Jacob Chase nails creepy vibes and inventive dream-world setpieces, including gross-out dental horror and claustrophobic sequences. The story grows convoluted in the final act, though the film delivers old-school horror fun and polished frights.

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Vulture
21 August 2026
60*

The film is dumb and predictable in broad strokes but occasionally clever as a shock engine, especially early on with inventive set pieces like a pillow fort maze and dental office scares. It singles out the pliable Further premise and goofy Nightmare on Elm Street-like spirit for praise while noting it runs out of juice with exposition.

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Radio Times
24 August 2026 · ★★ · James Mottram
40

The critic feels the sixth Insidious instalment shows the franchise idea has become tired and needs to conclude. Amelia Eve's performance and one inventive claustrophobic sequence with sofa cushions are singled out as relative strengths amid generally weak scares and revelations.

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The Hollywood Reporter
19 August 2026 · Frank Scheck
40*

The critic notes that while the film introduces a new set of victims, it remains a routine and tiresome Insidious entry with diminishing returns. Some effective jump scares and set pieces, such as a gruesome dental scene and a pillow fort labyrinth, are singled out for praise.

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The New York Times
20 August 2026 · Brandon Yu
40*

The critic finds the film less a retread than a kitschy carnival fright night, with demons resembling cosplay and costumed performers. It attempts to revamp the franchise with mostly new characters but has more problems than familiar horror pitfalls.

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Los Angeles Times
21 August 2026 · Tim Grierson
30*

The film offers a clue to where horror franchises go to die, feeling cursed with diminishing returns and unoriginal tropes. New characters struggle to engage, and the Further feels like a bummer way station with tired scares.

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The Guardian
19 August 2026
30*

The critic finds the sixth Insidious entry dull and unengaging, with the fun evaporated into uninteresting mythology and junky effects that push the franchise further from its promising start. A couple of eerie sequences stand out amid the metaphysical hullabaloo, along with Lin Shaye's consistent presence as the psychic medium.

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Collider
19 August 2026 · Charlie Ridgely
75*

The critic praises the film's wild, adventurous turn with strong performances, especially Amelia Eve, and its empowering story, but notes a weak middle stretch.

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/Film
19 August 2026 · 7/10 · BJ Colangelo
70

The critic calls it the best PG-13 horror film of the year so far for its mix of generational trauma in a mother-daughter story and fresh franchise elements like a new villain and Courier abilities. She singles out the humor woven into the narrative and the meticulously crafted jump scares, including dental horror sequences, for praise.

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The Wrap
19 August 2026
70*

The sixth installment delivers a satisfying if predictable standalone ghost story that returns the franchise to form. It singles out the exceptional sound design for adding essential texture and depth to the scares, especially in the dental scenes.

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Polygon
19 August 2026 · Maria Loreto
50*

The critic finds the family saga somewhat effective but bogged down by a sluggish pace, too many demons, and loss of intimacy despite inventive scares.

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Deadline
19 August 2026 · Pete Hammond
40*

The film recycles familiar franchise tropes with a PG-13 zombie twist that feels stale next to fresher horror entries. It singles out the cringe-inducing dental scenes for some inventive terror amid otherwise predictable plotting.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate