Although he started his sparkling career on Broadway in shows like The Full Monty, Patrick Wilson has been in everything from cheesy romcoms, to DCU epics, to disturbing psychological thrillers. However, despite his obvious range (and brilliant singing voice), many will know him best for his work in the Conjuring franchise, and the horrifically brilliant Insidious series of films.
A triple threat, Wilson has had a long road to becoming a “scream king,” as some fans have dubbed him. And his sharp turn into horror is only becoming more pronounced now, as he’s set to direct (as well as star in) the latest installment of the Insidious franchise: Insidious: The Red Door.
During a recent AMA on the /r/movies subreddit, Wilson and his longtime horror collaborator James Wan spoke on a number of intriguing topics, from Wan’s involvement in the Fast and Furious franchise to how creepy it was to film horror flicks (only one scene has ever made Patrick scared, apparently). A specific question that got a lot of attention was aimed at Wilson, and it asked him how he felt about his slide from Broadway into the horror genre, and if it was always planned, or just an accident. Wilson answered emphatically:
“Not intentional, but I LOVED Insidious (which started my whole horror journey/JW relationship) and committed to it before I even finished reading the script. It was THAT different from what was out there at the time. Conjuring was a different beast altogether. I saw the franchise potential, and I was thrilled/honored to play with James againโฆnot to mention my work wife, Verna Flamingo”
So, it seems Wilson is pretty ecstatic with his newfound status as a horror icon โ and why wouldn’t he be? He does an incredible job in both the Conjuring and Insidious franchises, making tension and fear practically emanate from the screen during his scenes. And, with The Red Door coming out (and serving as a direct sequel to Insidious: Chapter 2), we’re about to see just how well his ability to scare on-screen translates to his ability to do it from behind the camera.
Excited? Yes. Terrified? Also yes. But there’s no doubt we’re looking forward to seeing how Wilson manages to traumatize us this time round, and just what there is in store for the unlucky Lambert family in the fifth installment of the franchise.
Insidious: The Red Door is set to be released exclusively in theatres on July 7.