Sinister

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2:26

Sinister

R

Released Oct 12, 2012

1h 49m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

154 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

True-crime writer Ellison Oswald (Ethan Hawke) is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.

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Critics Consensus

Its plot hinges on typically implausible horror-movie behavior and recycles countless genre cliches, but Sinister delivers a surprising number of fresh, diabolical twists.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

More stupid than scary, Sinister can't even figure out who its real demon is.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 13, 2012

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Kevin C. Johnson

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It comes together with a gruesome though excellent ending that some will find difficult to shake.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 12, 2012

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

A mixed bag of old-school and contemporary horror tricks that occasionally raises a hair prickle of intrigue.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 12, 2012

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

A number of sequences are undeniably unsettling and effective, yet its narrative seems to only be a device to deliver those encounters.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Cassondra Feltus

Black Girl Nerds

'Sinister' remains one of the most original horror movies out there.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 16, 2022

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

The protagonist, played by Ethan Hawke, spends too much time bumbling around in the dark to discover the origin of mysterious sounds, and not enough time heeding the obvious warning signs that foretell his doom.

Rated: 2/4

Sep 23, 2022

Full Review

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Big D

Definitely a good one, full of jump scares and keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/10/25

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Ralph R

Sinister is the kind of horror movie that pulls you in from the first scene. The writing is sharp, the setup works, and the tension builds fast. The camera work is all about making you uncomfortable, in a good way. The shadows, especially in the second act, do half the heavy lifting for the atmosphere. It’s got that dark, almost noir vibe that makes you want to look over your shoulder while watching. Ethan Hawke is on point as the lead, and you can really feel his obsession ramping up. The whole house setting just feels off, like every room hides something. Some of the jump scares are straight up brutal, but honestly, they could have dialed it back a bit because after a while, you start expecting them. Now, the supernatural twist... I get what they were going for, and the foreshadowing actually clicks when you get to the end. But, for me, the ending didn’t hit as hard as the rest of the movie. It works, just didn’t leave me with chills. Still, if you want a solid horror experience with creepy visuals and a few genuine scares, this one is worth the watch. Just don’t expect a game-changing ending, and you’ll have a good time.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

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Jason H

I've been a horror fan since 1981, and this is the scariest movie I've seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

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Victor A

I thought this was absolutely brilliant, disturbing throughout i never felt comfortable watching it ( in a good way)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/02/25

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Spike D

Anybody who ranks this among the scariest horror films of all time hasn't seen enough horror films.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

Haze b

This movie was not worth the watch..... I have had recommendations to watch this on TikTok, saying it will leave you sleepless. However, it was a snooze-fest, if you are a horror fan, do not watch this its disappointing. The idea is original and creative, but the execution was not great...... Can't recommend!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/01/25

Full Review

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Scott Derrickson

Director

Ethan Hawke

Ellison

Vincent D'Onofrio

Prof. Jonas

James Ransone

Deputy

Fred Dalton Thompson

Sheriff

Clare Foley

Ashley

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Sinister: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

True-crime writer Ellison Oswald (Ethan Hawke) is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.

Director: Scott Derrickson
Producer: Jason Blum, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones
Screenwriter: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Automatik, Summit Entertainment, Alliance, Blumhouse, IM Global
Rating: R (Some Terror|Disturbing Violent Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.1M
Runtime: 1h 49m

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