Movie Reviews: Insidious Out Of The Further & Primate
- Faiz Faisal
- Aug 21
- 6 min read
Insidious: Out of The Further Review: How Many Times Can We Re-Enter The Further?
Let’s just cut straight to the chase: What even is an Insidious movie anymore?
When James Wan and Leigh Whannell launched the franchise back in 2010, the first two films worked well enough. They weren't masterclasses in cinematic horror, but they arrived during an era when loud jump scares and theatrical acoustic bangs were widely accepted, fresh, and fun to watch in a crowded theater.
Fast forward to six movies in, and it feels like Blumhouse is stretching this premise paper-thin. Honestly, two movies were enough. If they really wanted to close out the story of the Lambert family, three was the hard limit. Instead, we got Insidious: The Red Door (2023), which failed miserably to bring satisfying closure. The core lore of "The Further" this dark, purgatorial in-between realm between the living and the dead simply doesn't have enough gas in the tank to fuel a six-film franchise without feeling completely repetitive.
So, how does Insidious: Out of The Further hold up?
The Plot: An Insidious Entry Turned Sci-Fi Superhero Thriller
Directed by Jacob Chase (Come Play), Insidious: Out of The Further tries to shake up the franchise formula by introducing a brand-new lead, Gemma (Amelia Eve). Gemma is a young mother who discovers that not only can she project herself into the dark corridors of The Further, but she also possesses a unique, ground-breaking ability: she can bring physical entities and objects back out of The Further into the real world. Naturally, once the terrifying demons lurking in the dark realize she holds the key to physical reality, an evil entity attempts to manipulate her into opening a permanent bridge between the afterlife and our world.
To give credit where it’s due, this concept is admittedly a much more interesting take on the lore compared to the uninspired slog of entries 3, 4, and 5. But in execution? It shifts the tone so far from atmospheric horror that it almost feels like a sci-fi superhero origin story. Giving the protagonist "portal-opening superpowers" takes away the helpless dread that made the original films terrifying. The premise is cute on paper, but the actual narrative structure is surprisingly weak.
Decent Performances Hindered by Predictable Jump Scares
Performance-wise, the cast actually does a solid job with what they're given. Amelia Eve delivers a committed lead performance as Gemma, and seeing franchise staple Lin Shaye reprise her role as Elise Rainier always brings a welcome touch of nostalgia.
However, the script suffers from lazy exposition dumping. Several side characters feel like they exist solely to act as human textbooks, standing around to deliver lengthy monologues explaining the "rules" of The Further to the audience.
Worse yet is the film's reliance on jump scares. The scare tactics have become so formulaic that after the first 30 minutes, you can spot them coming a mile away. You instantly begin to differentiate between the tension build-up for an actual jump scare versus a "fake-out" cheap scare.
(On a positive side note: a few clunky scenes featured heavily in the promotional trailers were actually omitted from the final theatrical cut, which made for a slightly tighter watch).
Should You Watch It?
So, is Insidious: Out of The Further worth your time?
If you are grading it strictly on the curve of the Insidious franchise, it’s a minor step up from the lowest points of the series because it at least attempts a new gimmick. But as a standalone horror film, it feels tired, predictable, and distinctly "meh." How many movies will it take before Hollywood finally lets this premise rest in peace?
RATING 4/10: An intriguing superhero-esque spin on The Further’s lore and strong lead acting aren't enough to save this sixth installment from predictable jump scares and an exhausted franchise formula.
Primate Movie Review: A Brutal Killer-Chimp Thriller That Will Make You Question Exotic Pets
When I first heard about Primate, I’m not going to lie, my mind immediately jumped to Jordan Peele’s Nope. Specifically, that terrifying, unforgettable flashback scene where Gordy the sitcom chimp turns on his co-stars during a live taping. I almost wondered if we were getting a full-blown spin-off centered around that vibe!
It turns out Primate is completely its own standalone creature feature. And considering it was released early in the year, a graveyard month notoriously notorious for sub-par horror flicks. I kept my expectations reasonably managed.
I finally caught up with Primate on HBO Max, and while it’s not reinventing the genre, it delivers a punchy, ultra-gory survival ride. But as an animal lover, it left me feeling a very specific type of frustration. Let’s break it down!
What Is Primate About? (Spoiler-Free Overview)
Directed by Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), Primate takes place at a sleek, isolated cliffside home in Hawaii. The story follows college student Lucy, who returns home to visit her deaf father, Adam, and her younger sister. Bringing along a few friends for a tropical getaway, the group expects a weekend of poolside relaxation.
The family’s prized companion is Ben, an extraordinarily smart adopted chimpanzee who communicates with the family using a custom soundboard tablet. However, after Ben is secretly bitten by an infected local wild animal, he contracts rabies. As night falls over the secluded estate, the once-loving pet transforms into an unstoppable, hyper-aggressive predator, trapping the helpless group with nowhere to run.
⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: Full Plot & Character Rampage Breakdown ⚠️
Note: Stop reading here if you haven't watched the movie yet and want to go in fresh!
If you know anything about real-life primates, you know they possess terrifying physical strength and a rabid chimpanzee is a literal nightmare scenario. Primate wastes zero time proving this. Within the opening minutes, a local veterinarian enters Ben’s enclosure and gets his face completely torn off.
From there, the body count ramps up relentlessly once the kids throw a party while the dad is away at a book signing:
Nick & Erin: After Ben breaks loose and bites Erin's leg, the group retreats to the infinity pool (knowing chimps are hydrophobic and can't swim). When Nick tries to shove Ben off the pool ledge, Ben casually tosses Nick off the cliff to his death on the rocks below.
Kate: While trying to sneak into the living room to grab a phone, Kate is ambushed and killed when Ben crushes her head with a rock.
Drew & Brad: Two unsuspecting party guests arrive late only to get slaughtered. Ben corners Drew in a bedroom and tears his jaw completely off, then ambushes Brad outside with a shovel.
Hannah: Hannah manages to grab keys and a phone to call 911, but gets into the wrong car. Ben finds the matching keyfob, unlocks the doors, and mauls her inside.
Eventually, the dad returns home after receiving a rabies test result from the lab. Together, the surviving family members fight back, stabbing Ben with a shattered wine bottle and ultimately sending him over a balcony, where he is fatally impaled on a broken chair leg.
The most chilling beat comes in the final seconds. As police collect evidence in the front yard, an officer accidentally triggers Ben’s speech soundboard, which chillingly plays out his last recorded message: "Lucy bad."
The Big Issue: Where Are the Safety Precautions?!
As a horror spectacle, Primate delivers great practical gore and tense survival sequences. But as an animal lover, this movie drove me crazy for a completely different reason.
If you're going to keep a full-grown, apex-strength primate in a residential home, where are the basic safety protocols? How do you not have tranquilizer darts, a taser, or emergency containment gear within arm's reach at all times?
Furthermore, the film fails to establish a believable emotional bond between the family and Ben. Aside from an early moment where Lucy gives him a teddy bear and defends him against a friend's comment, everyone flips instantly into cold survival mode the second he gets sick. I wanted to feel a bittersweet emotional gut-punch about a beloved pet turning wild, but instead, I just ended up feeling bad for Ben! He was an infected, confused animal who was failed by irresponsible owners. Poor Ben!
Is it good?
Primate is a straightforward, blood-soaked B-movie creature feature. It’s brutal, quick-paced, and serves up plenty of popcorn entertainment if you’re looking for a mindless Friday night horror watch on streaming. Just don't expect deep character logic or responsible pet ownership!
RATING 5/10: A gory, fast-paced killer-chimp movie that delivers plenty of brutal horror kills, but suffers from frustrating character decisions and a total lack of emotional depth for its central creature.
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