We delayed our FearScale monitoring session for the sixth installment of the Insidious franchise for two reasons. First, we didn’t want to spend the money after being disappointed by the previous entries. Second, we simply weren’t that interested anymore.

That’s a shame, considering the original Insidious remains one of our favorite horror movies and features our cousin, Ty Simpkins.

When Insidious: Out of the Further finally arrived on video, we decided to give the franchise another shot. Our FearScale test subject was already familiar with the series and had nearly walked out of the original movie because it terrified her so much.

Would this latest chapter send her heart racing back into The Further, or would the franchise’s scares finally lose their pulse? We strapped in, started the monitor, and let the numbers tell the story.

If you’d like to be a part of the FearScale experiment, sign up to Become a Test Subject!

SYNOPSIS:

Gemma, a young mother raising her daughter in the house she grew up in, discovers she can travel into The Further, where she possesses an ability to bring what lives there back to the real world.

FearScale™ Methodology

FearScale measures how frightening a horror film truly is by monitoring real-time heart rate data from human test subjects during controlled viewing sessions. Each subject’s baseline resting heart rate is recorded prior to the film, allowing us to identify meaningful spikes caused by tension, dread, shock, or sustained unease.

Heart rate increases are tracked throughout the runtime and correlated with specific scenes to determine when fear responses occur, and how intense they are. This data-driven approach helps separate genuine physiological reactions from subjective opinions or post-viewing impressions.

Because fear is personal, FearScale does not claim universal results. Instead, each session offers an objective snapshot of how a film impacts the human body under consistent conditions, providing a unique, measurable lens on horror.

Where We Monitored: At Home

Test Subject: Leah

Age: 45

Gender: Female

Fears: Phasmophobia or the intense, persistent, and irrational fear of ghosts and supernatural entities

Resting Baseline HR: 61-65bpm

Walking HR: 80-85bpm

INSIDIOUS: OUT OF THE FURTHER FEARSCALE ANALYSIS:

An uncomfortable opening establishes the relationship between an independent daughter and her ‘crazy’ mother. Almost immediately, our subject’s heart rate climbed above her resting baseline. We were already questioning the PG-13 rating before the opening title even appeared.

The story then jumps forward twenty years, bringing back the dark, atmospheric tone that made the original Insidious so effective. Our subject knew she wasn’t safe, and the film established an environment where something strange could happen at any moment.

But atmosphere alone doesn’t guarantee a frightening experience. We needed to see whether the tension would translate into measurable fear.

18:00 — The Expected Scare Still Packs a Punch

A jump scare arrives that our subject knew was coming, yet she still wasn’t prepared for it. In fact, several subsequent scenes followed the same formula: a prolonged buildup of tension followed by a quick scare designed to make viewers leap out of their seats.

The movie also left our subject questioning why some suspicious, unusual neighbors could wander the streets without anyone stopping to ask who they were. Apparently, the neighborhood watch was taking the night off.

Early scenes also delivered some claustrophobic moments, particularly a couch sequence that pushed our subject’s heart rate to 87 BPM.

38:00 – A Dental Appointment from Hell

One of the film’s most uncomfortable scenes pushed our subject’s heart rate to its session peak of 91 BPM. Let’s just say this sequence might inspire you to schedule your next dentist appointment immediately.

FearScale verdict: This scene had plenty of bite.

48:00 – The Story Drills Away the Dread

A strange transition into the second half of the movie introduces an information dump that slows the momentum and makes it difficult to sustain the earlier sense of dread.

The underlying story is interesting enough, but horror fans may find some of its elements familiar, particularly those who enjoy comparing supernatural horror with the imagery and atmosphere of a certain iconic burned slasher.

As the film approaches its finale, our subject gets caught up in the action. However, the excitement doesn’t translate into sustained fear. For much of the third act, her heart rate drops back toward her resting baseline.

FearScale Heart Rate Results

• Peak heart rate: 91 BPM
• Heart rate at 18 minutes: 87 BPM
• Average calories burned: 215
• Scariest stretch: The uncomfortable dental sequence
• Overall fear factor: More atmospheric tension than sustained terror

The numbers suggest that Insidious: Out of the Further had moments capable of raising our subject’s heart rate, but it struggled to maintain that response throughout the movie. Its most effective scenes created discomfort and anticipation, while the final act lost much of the physiological momentum built earlier.

Remember, heart rate is only one measure of a horror movie’s impact. Individual responses vary, and a lower heart rate doesn’t necessarily mean a viewer isn’t enjoying the film. Still, our subject’s results suggest that this latest trip into The Further was more of a supernatural thrill than a full-blown fright fest.

Best Viewing Environment

Our recommendation: Catch a free theater screening if you can. Otherwise, wait for home video.

If you’re going to watch Insidious: Out of the Further, a dark, quiet theater is your best bet. As with previous entries in the franchise, the soundtrack does much of the heavy lifting, building tension and making ordinary moments feel ominous.

Unfortunately, the monsters don’t always deliver the same impact.

A theater’s sound system can make the film’s unsettling audio and sudden stingers more effective, giving its jump scares their best chance to land. At home, you’ll want the lights off and the volume up if you hope to get the most out of the experience.

However, we wouldn’t recommend paying full theatrical admission unless you’re a dedicated Insidious fan. If you can find a free screening, take advantage of it. Otherwise, save your money and wait for video. Your heart, and your wallet, may thank you.

Calorie Burn Comparison

Our FearScale test subject burned an average of 215 calories during the monitoring session.

That’s a respectable amount of energy for a movie night, but it doesn’t put this installment among the franchise’s most effective fear-inducing experiences.

For context, FearScale measures heart rate and estimates calories burned while viewers watch horror movies. The goal is to explore how different films affect the body under specific viewing conditions, rather than relying solely on subjective reviews.

And if you’re worried about the dental scene taking a bite out of your oral hygiene routine, here’s some good news: Colgate toothpaste contains zero calories. So go ahead and brush after the movie. Your teeth have already been through enough.

Just don’t expect brushing to remove the lingering disappointment.

FearScale Conclusion

Insidious: Out of the Further is best approached as a supernatural thriller rather than a genuinely terrifying horror movie.

Watching it feels like walking through a creepy funhouse filled with unsettling imagery, claustrophobic situations, and occasional jump scares. There are moments when the atmosphere works, and the soundtrack deserves credit for creating tension.

Unfortunately, the story lacks the cohesion and sustained dread needed to make those moments truly frightening. We kept waiting for the kind of memorable, nerve-shattering sequences that made the original Insidious such an effective horror experience.

Instead, the film delivers scattered jolts of discomfort without maintaining enough tension to keep our test subject’s heart racing.

Check out our results from the original Insidious and Compare the Scares!

How many Fear Calories did you burn watching Insidious: Out of the Further?  Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram, and Facebook