Insidious: The Last Key (soundtrack)

Lore & Background

Joseph Bishara, who composed for the previous installments, returned to score The Last Key. Bishara stated that the story itself contributed more than the timeline, focusing on characters and themes of wounded past, personal demons, and real-life traumatic events, and the layers that create, sustain, and perpetuate these patterns formed the genesis of the score. He noted that an earlier inspiration came from the rural setting, which was far different from the cities where the previous films take place. Bishara recalled that writer Leigh Whannell told the story of The Last Key very early in the process, and the rural setting served as the standout that defined the world of the film.

The score was never released on its original date. A few of its cues were released as part of More Music from the Further, which combined music from the first three Insidious films and the first two Conjuring films. The original score was released on July 7, 2023, five years after the film's release, distributed by Madison Gate Records alongside Bishara's score for The Red Door.

Reader's Guide

The score for Insidious: The Last Key represents a notable entry in Joseph Bishara's work on the franchise, arriving five years after the film's release. Critics described the music as droning and melancholy, with Bishara's work being more restrained and melodically inclined than in previous outings. Some reviewers called the score eerie, chilling, and mysterious, while one critic noted it evoked chills. Another critic described it as a familiar score. The delayed release, handled by Madison Gate Records alongside another Bishara score, underscores the soundtrack's eventual recognition as part of the broader Insidious musical canon. The score's thematic focus on personal demons and traumatic events, inspired by the rural setting, distinguishes it from the urban environments of earlier films in the series.

Did You Know?

• It was distributed by Madison Gate Records along with Bishara's score for The Red Door.
• Some of its cues were previously included in the compilation More Music from the Further.
• Composer Joseph Bishara said the rural setting was a key inspiration, differing from the cities of prior films.