Sitting through this latest entry in the surprisingly resilient “Insidious” franchise is nothing less than a chore from beginning to end. The screenplay, written by longtime contributor and co-star Leigh Whannell, is so creaky that it feels legitimately unfinished, veering from one scene to another with little cohesion and featuring a never-ending series of nonsensical interactions among the characters. In addition, the movie shamelessly uses misogyny and child abuse as plot points, while series star Lin Shaye tears into the dramatic material and delivers a knockout emotional performance that highlights the overall project’s lazy sloppiness. This series really should be put to sleep, while Shaye should be given a strong leading television role in a horror property that’s worth her considerable talents and charm.
Rating: ★ (out of 5)
