A satisfying entry.
The Last Key was received with mixed reviews upon release and it certainly won't satisfy everyone but is a solid entry into the Insidious franchise with good performances, enough scares to please and a solid story. Where does the series go from here? Who knows. If it's the last film, it's a good way to end it.  "So, what do you want on your pizza?" Set back and forth, between the years 1953 and 2010, tells the story of parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainer who is continuously having nightmares of her childhood and the paranormal encounters she experienced at the home she lived in with her mother, brother, and psychotic father. She receives a call from a man named Ted Garza, who has been experiencing paranormal activity in his own home and needs Elise's help; the catch is, he lives in her old house. While reluctant, she accepts the job, along with her two colleagues, Tucker and Specs. As soon as Adam Robitel stepped into the director's chair, fans should've been excited. This was the guy who directed the scary as shit The Taking of Deborah Logan and also wrote the underrated Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension – and he does a stellar job here.  Expect plenty of over the shoulder scares. The backstory element to Elise and her childhood was a nice surprise. I know a lot of horror franchises do this and sometimes it works and sometimes not, but it very much is a home run here. It helps that the child and teenage versions of Elise do an amazing job. So, yeah the performances. Like mentioned, the younger versions of Elise are a gem (Ava Kolker and Hana Hayes) – if they continue down the performing arts route, I hope they get somewhere.  "What do you mean you meant to call the Ghostbusters?" Elise's dad (Josh Stewart), who was the sidekick of Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, plays the sadistic father to a hilt, he has that look about him. As for the main cast, Kirk Acevedo shines as troubled Ted Garza, as do Caitlin Gerard and Spencer Locke as the Rainier sisters and of course Australia's own Leigh Whannell (writer) and Angus Simpson bring their comedic value to their characters and while sometimes it gets a little irritating, I'll let them pass because they are Aussie. A bloke I haven't seen in a while is Bruce Davison, who peeps will know from the first couple of the X-Men movies, is underutilized as Elise's brother Christian but hey he is more of a supporting role – understood. Another character in itself is, of course, the house!! Can't think of a more creepier residence. Situated right next to a State Penitentiary, where jailbirds are getting executed – no wonder the place is frikking haunted.  This is where I would back away slowly. End of the day, it's a positive entry to the franchise. On par with the third part and way better than the disappointing sequel (yeah I didn't dig it). Check it out, you just might be entertained. 7/10 Written by Matthew.
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