Character Analysis: Lipstick-Face Demon

Character Analysis: Lipstick-Face Demon

By: Brian Cotnoir

When you’ve seen as many Horror films as I have, you pretty much become immune to fear.  However, most recently there has been a new Horror movie character that has managed to terrify me multiple times.  He is a character who has made me scream out in terror in the theaters multiple times and that character has the bizarre name of “Lipstick-Face Demon”.  Don’t let the name fool you; this character from James Wan and Leigh Whannell’s “Insidious” Franchise is more terrifying than Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and Leatherface.

CHARACTER: Lipstick-Face Demon from “Insidious” (2011) and 

“Insidious: Chapter 3” (2015)

Lipstick-Face Demon in "Insidious: Chapter 3"

So this is going to sound a little bit confusing, but I’ll try to make this as simple as I can.   Lipstick Face Demon’s first appearance technically comes in “Insidious Chapter 3” because everything occurs before the events in the first film.  Lipstick-Face Demon appears behind Elise Reiner, a spiritual medium, in her bedroom at the very end of the film.  He is—well-a demon who is from the astral plain known as “The Further”.  He has dark black skin, furry legs, and hooves for feet.  He also has razor sharp finger nails and green-yellow eyes, and his voice can only be heard by a select few.  Lipstick-Face Demon captures the spirit of a young boy named, Dalton Lambert.  With no medical explanation for why their son isn’t responding to anything, and mysterious and spooky things starting to happen around their home, the Lambert family ends up seeking help from Elise. Elise informs the family that their son is lost somewhere in The Further and that he is being held captive by a malevolent demon, who hopes to use Dalton’s body as way to break free of The Further.

Lipstick-Face Demon in "Insidious"

THE ACTOR:

Joseph Bishara plays the role of Lipstick-Face Demon

The Actor who plays Lipstick-Face Demon isn’t even an actor at all, but is someone who has close ties to the Horror film industry.  Joseph Bishara plays Lipstick-Face Demon in “Insidious” and “Insidious Chapter 3”, and he is also the Films Composer.  Bishara has composed the soundtrack for all three “Insidious” films as well as the scores in other James Wan films such as “Annabelle”, “The Conjuring” and its sequel, and many other Horror films.  I think it’s pretty nifty that the films composer has a small, but iconic role in the film.  It’s definitely a neat little fun-fact.  Plus, I find it funny that I find Bishara terrifying as Lipstick-Face Demon, but when you see him without the make up on he doesn’t look scary or intimidating.

CHARACTER IS SIMILAR TO OR INSPIRED BY:

Everyone who has seen Lipstick-Face Demon has had the same initial thought of him: “Hey, he kind of looks like Darth Maul from “Star Wars—Episode 1”, and I definitely see the similarities with the red and black faces.  Lipstick-Face Demon also has some traits of biblical demon portrayals (the red and black skin, the glowing eyes, the furry legs and hooves, etc.).

"Lipstick-Face Demon, I....am your father!"

".......Whatever, dude"

FATE OF THE CHARACTER:

Dalton’s Spirit is saved by his father Josh who journeys into the further to save his son, and Lipstick-Face Demon is unable to takeover Dalton’s body.  So it is safe to assume that he is still lurking in The Further waiting for his next opportunity to escape.

He's waiting for you!