10s Movie Review - Sinister

Director: Scott Derrickson
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Ethan Hawke, James Ransone, Vincent D’Onofrio, Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton, Danielle Kotch, Michael Hall D’Addario, Clare Foley, Rob Riley, Tavis Smiley, Janet Zappala, Victoria Leigh, Cameron Ocasio, Ethan Haberfield, Blake Mizrahi, Nicolas King

Description: Washed-up true crime writer Wllison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) finds a box of super 8 home movies in his new home that suggest the murder that he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose work dates back to the 1960s.  

Review: Few horror movies manage to make the audience feel uncomfortable within the first twenty seconds. “Sinister” does. The opening image is downright disturbing: a man, a woman and their children are each standing with a bag over their head and a noose around their neck, under a tree. Exasperatingly slowly a large branch is sawn off, which serves as a counterweight. The foursome struggle and their agony seems to last forever. But then the bodies hang lifeless from the tree. The ominous tone is set.
For crime novelist Ellison Oswalt this type of movies are interesting source material. His career as a writer has been on hold for a while, so he could use a good story. He decides to move with his family. Ellison assures his wife that this time they didn’t move close to a former crime scene. But in reality they are moving in to the house of the family from that snuff movie. In the attic, Ellison accidentally finds a box with a Super 8 camera and film rolls. It looks like family movies with titles such as Family BBQ and Sleepy Time. Ellison decides to watch them in his office and is shocked by what the films contain.
Ellison knows he has to let the dark past rest, yet he is curious and watches all the reels. Even when the projector starts spinning by itself, his son suffers from sleepwalking and his daughter makes macabre drawings, he continues the search. Who was responsible for these insane acts? Why was the family hanged? Why was everything recorded? One thing is clear: I know why the movie is called “Sinister”.
This is a horror movie that understands the formula. It masters the build-up of tension and suspense. Knowing something is not right. Ethan Hawke is an actor I always enjoy watching and I think he is kind of underrated and he doesn’t get enough praise. He is so good in “Sinister” and really carries this film.
“Sinister” gets under your skin and pulls the audience into the obsession of the main character. The film is scary because of its realistic and disturbing images and it has some very effective jump scares (that are not cheap). One of the ‘family films’ especially has a very shocking moment, which is considered one of the better jump scares in a horror movie.
I also want to give the movie bonus points for its ending. I won’t reveal anything, but it something that doesn’t happen enough in horror these days. Most of them play safe, but “Sinister” actually did a very unconventional and controversial thing.
“Sinister” really scared me, a movie best watched in dark room for maximum effect. My heart rate went way up while watching this film.

Rating: 4/ 5