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Sinister

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Sinister R 2012 1h 49m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 155 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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Sinister

Sinister

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk I can see why people like this movie and keep bringing it up to us. It’s got a distinctive dark tone while still being very approachable for mainstream audiences. It’s like if The Crow had a baby with The Nun from The Conjuring. Rated: 6/10 Sep 18, 2025 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deshawn F. Great movie good atmosphere nice twists original story loved it one of my favorites Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/24/25 Full Review Jaeden H. As a 17 year old horror fanatic who doesnt scare easy, my father had to be in the room for me to finish this. The movie had an amazing premise and the visuals carried through. The only problem I had with this film was his wife’s horrible American accent, I spent a lot of this movie thinking she was trying to do a British accent and failing, come to find out she is actually British Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/22/25 Full Review Simon B Deserves more than 68 %. had some really chilling moments. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/21/25 Full Review Joyce M. In my and many other horror lovers top 10 lists! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Mark M. Epic jump scares and the creepy factor is next level. Ethan Hawke was born to play horror Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/17/25 Full Review Me I just rewatched this the other day still creepy something you're not at that time which was completely different and I do enjoy it's in my collection Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/16/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Sinister

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Movie Info

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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