13 Things You PROBABLY Didn't Know About The 'INSIDIOUS' Franchise

The Insidious franchise has held a special place in our horror loving hearts since it came to the big screen in 2010. From the background stories to the immersive way the story weaves through different timelines and is so expansive, we really dig it.

Now that the franchise is heading into its fifth film with ‘INSIDIOUS 5: THE RED DOOR’, we have learned a few things, Patrick Wilson will star in the film alongside the returning Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert, with Rose Byrne also returning in this year’s brand new movie as Renai Lambert.

Insidious: The Red Door will pick up with the Lamberts ten years after the last movie and will release in theaters everywhere on July 7, 2023.

We wanted to dive head first into the “further” once again and bring you a few facts that may have slipped through the cracks about the films that you may have missed or straight up didn’t know.

13 THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE INSIDIOUS FRANCHISE

1. ‘INSIDIOUS’ was not the original title of the first film

   The original films title was actually ‘THE FURTHER’.

2. Patrick Wilson was not the first choice to play Josh Lambert in the franchise.

   Ethan Hawke turned down the role of Josh Lambert, which ultimately went to Patrick Wilson.

3. SINISTER (2012) has many similarities to INSIDIOUS if you look closely.

   Not only do Insidious and Sinister use a negative adjective as a title; both are also supernatural horror movies produced by Jason Blum, in which both Hawke and Wilson are the head of their respective families, who move into a house that is haunted by a strange entity that specifically targets children.

4. ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ has a prop that shows up in a few other films.

   When Specs and Tucker enter Elise's house, there is an African Tribal painting hanging on the wall. It is the same painting seen hanging in Daniel's study in Paranormal Activity 2 (2010) and in the Grandmother's house in Paranormal Activity 3 (2011).

5. The Fans definitely have a favorite demon in the franchise.

   During the last scene of the film, as Specs and Tucker arrive at the door of a family in seeming distress, a little girl sees Elise now in her ghost form. As Specs and Tucker explain to the parents who they are, Elise goes inside the house and approaches another girl who is in an apparent coma, and begins to speak to her. She then hears a sort of rusty crackling noise and when looking behind the girl, sees something horrible and gasps. The noise she hears is that of the Lipstick Face Demon from the first movie, moving his claws. For a long time before the third chapter was announced to be a prequel, fans who understood this were excited to see the return of said entity of the further, making a return for the third film.

6. The third Insidious film used music illegally.

   A trailer for the film was released in March of 2015 and featured the song "Afraid of Nothing" by Sharon Van Etten. The filmmakers used the song without acquiring the rights to it. When Van Etten was notified by a fan on Twitter, the filmmakers were forced to pay her for illegally using her music.

7. Elise’s dog has a familiar name.

   Elise has a dog called Warren. It is based on real-life paranormal investigators Ed Warren and Lorraine Warren, which appeared in James Wan's film The Conjuring.

8. Some of the reactions of the actors were of true fright and terror.

   During the filming of the climax for Insidious Chapter 3, director Leigh Whannell did not want the other actors (including Lin Shaye and Angus Sampson) to meet the actress playing Lillith, so they could have a more powerful reaction to her appearance. Actress Ele Keats did not step into the set until the very last second.

9. Many people in Insidious 4: The Last Key have the same powers as previous characters in other chapters of the franchise.

   There are five characters with the ability to astral project into the Further: Elise, Josh, Dalton, Carl and Imogen. Quinn Brenner and Melissa Rainier appear in the Further but only as a result of their soul being seperated from their physical body and being taken to the Further.

10. There’s only Two demons in the Insidious franchise.

    Many people have the misconception that all the spirits in the Insidious franchise are demons when this is not the case. There are only two. The “Lipstick” Demon and the “Keyface” Demon in Insidious 4: The Last Key.

11. Elise is to blame for everything that happens in the first film.

    Early in the Insidious 4: The Last Key, Keyface tells young Elise he needs her to open all the doors. Later in the movie, while trying to leave the Further, she opens a red door revealing Dalton and leaves it open which is how the Lipstick face demon crosses over.

12. Insidious 5: The Red Door was written by someone other than its originator.

    The first Insidious installment not to be written by franchise creator Leigh Whannell. Screenwriting duties were passed down to Scott Teems who previously co-wrote Halloween Kills and Firestarter for Blumhouse.

13. One of the original films stars will now step into the directing chair for Insidious 5.

    Patrick Wilson (Josh Lambert) will preform double duty as actor and director for the fifth film in the franchise.

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