Although we are fast approaching the release of Insidious 5, it was in 2010 that the creepy creative work of Leigh Whannell first made its way to the silver screen. Under James Wan’s direction, Whannell’s possession story unfolded before an enthralled audience. Many accounts of possession and exorcisms have been told. However, none were as insidious as Leigh’s. The first installment was so terrifying that some considered Insidious one of the scariest movies made.
Installment one of Insidious was set in present times and chronicled the events surrounding a household of five at a pivotal moment of transition. Josh, Renai, Dalton, Kali, and Foster Lambert were moving into a new home. However, they were not a typical family. The Lamberts were haunted, and this haunting was quite unusual. The audience would later learn that supernatural ties bound the spirits of the beyond to the Lamberts. Unfortunately, specters are determined forces that lie in wait for open doors and opportunities to walk through them.
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Dalton, the youngest son of Josh and Renai, serves as the nucleus. He is the centrifugal force drawing onlookers into the account. Josh Lambert is Dalton’s loving father, who is stalked by insidious demons, nightmarish beings he has been long cut off from. Like all respectable fathers, Josh acts in the best interest of his family when Dalton’s condition worsens. Unaware of the ability that he and his son share, he pursues help for his boy. He discovers salvation in Elise, a paranormal expert portrayed by Lin Shaye.
Unbeknownst to Josh, Elise is no stranger. It is Elise who was once instrumental in his life. And years of suppression are the result of their initial interaction. But suppression does not mean being done away with. Skeletons don’t always stay entombed, as everyone discovers through Dalton’s experience.
The Insidious Timeline
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Insidious is a feature rife with twists that took three additional installments to dig to its foundations. The story engenders more significant discoveries with each installment, and all roads lead back to Elise. The fourth chapter of the franchise, The Last Key, drills deep into Elise’s history, giving the story an expansive timeline dating back to the 1950s. Chapter three is a nonlinear exploration of Elsie’s growth and career up to the moment she re-enters Josh’s life in installment one.
Shockingly, her re-entrance into Josh’s life also marks the end of her existence. Dalton’s case would be her last in her natural form, as Elise is no longer in the land of the living. The paranormal expert has seemingly freed Josh and Dalton from their possession. And subsequently, young Dalton has undergone hypnosis to conceal his gift, hopefully inhibiting the unintended opening of another door. So, it seems, for once, the Lamberts will live in peace. And, given the new timetable, it appears they have lived their lives under the radar for quite some time.
So, with four installments completed and the foundation dug up, what is left of the narrative? Where will the newest segment fit in the timetable?
Insidious 5 Will Explore More of Dalton’s Story
In the sequence of films, Insidious 5 occurs after the events of Insidious 2. There is a sizable time jump of about ten years. Everyone has grown since Dalton’s encounter in The Further, and Dalton is crossing another threshold in his life. He is preparing for his first year in college. However, his ability has not left him, although the circumstances of his youth may be a haze. As written in Digital Spy:
This concealed gem can prove problematic.
“He’s [Dalton] got this ability that he doesn’t even realize he has of being an astral projector and traveler.”
What Can Fans Expect?
Essentially, the production team has kept the plot under wraps. However, one can draw a few theories from the information presented. Given current revelations, the forthcoming chapter will once again focus on Dalton. This segment will presumably deal with Dalton’s rediscovery of his supernatural gift. With that understanding, one question arises, will there be a place for Elise (Lin Shaye) in the storyline? A 2020 interview with Shaye shows that her return is very much possible.
Although Shaye felt Insidious was a wrap after installment four, she was up to the task for a fifth. According to Coming Soon, Shaye stated:
And if listings on IMBD are correct, she will make an appearance. So, it is feasible that fans will once again see Shaye in the same capacity she fulfilled in the second chapter, a spirit guide extending her expertise to the Lamberts.
“I’m good with whatever; if we come back, I’m in The Further this time, so that will be different.”
Installment five is set for a 2023 release. Interestingly, Patrick Wilson (Josh) now sits in the director’s chair. As a result, viewers will experience the phenomena from another angle. In February, Wilson confirmed filming would begin later this year, which is good news for fans of the series. When the initial announcement for Insidious 5 was made, it was confirmed that Ty Simpkins (Dalton) would likewise return to fulfill his role of Dalton. While it is believed some other characters might return, that is yet to be confirmed.
So, with a grown-up Dalton, a suppressed ability, insidious attachments, a deceased Elise, and a collegiate experience, who knows what fresh terrors may emerge? Whether good or bad, the answers will come in full on July 7, 2023.
