It is a tragic reality in Hollywood: the more chapters a horror universe unfolds, the more soul it inevitably loses. Insidious: The Last Key (2018) is the fourth released film in this franchise, and it represents yet another massive loss in terms of the series' legacy, as well as a total loss as an entertaining cinematic experience.

Directed by Adam Robitel, this installment focuses entirely on the backstory of the parapsychologist Elise Rainier, taking us back to her childhood home in New Mexico. It introduces a brand new demon called KeyFace, a monster who literally has skeleton keys for fingers that he uses to lock away his victims' voices.

Behind the scenes, KeyFace is played by Javier Botet, a legendary horror actor whose unique double-jointed physiology allows him to do incredibly creepy practical movements without the use of computer graphics. It is a fantastic piece of trivia, but unfortunately, a cool monster design cannot save a terribly boring movie.

The primary issue with this film is that it simply is not fun to watch. The overarching lore has become so scattered, convoluted, and heavily reliant on cheap jump scares that the creeping dread and genuine tension of the original film are entirely gone. Instead of feeling terrified, you just feel exhausted.

My official advice for anyone interested in this franchise? Just watch the very first movie, enjoy the terrifying mastery of that original story, and completely pretend that the rest of these soulless sequels and prequels do not exist.

Verdict: Do Not Recommend