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Sinister

Play trailer 2:26 Poster for Sinister R Released Oct 12, 2012 1h 49m Horror Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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63% 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 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 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Selma A Sort of brilliant, attention capturing. I got goosebumps each second and it didn't stop until the end of the movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/18/24 Full Review Hugh J Sinister, expertly utilizes the old school technology of super 8 home movies and the modern day era of true crime writers to create a story that will satisfy most horror aficianados. Combining bits from the occult, true crime, foreign religion and the classic boogeyman into a story that continually ups the frights and suspense right up until the very end. This movie does a great job reminding us how to be afraid of things that go bump in the night. It's no wonder studies were done on individuals' heart rates while watching it. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/10/24 Full Review BigD J Sinister is one of those once in a generation films. Brilliantly conducted. Cinematography, soundtrack, creep factor, jump scares, lighting was on point. Some annoying parts, like refusing to explain anything to anybody, despite wild paranormal activity happening throughout the house and the wife who allegedly “supported” the lead showing anything but support. The intermittent comedy helped ease the tension. But, overall, this is one of few films post-2000 that’s actually worth watching more than once. Not sure why critics gave it such bad reviews or what the hell they’re looking for in horror, but this gem had it all. I don’t know about scariest of all time, but it’s definitely not The Exorcist, either. Worth a watch, but I’d recommend a very dark, quiet environment, as there’s a lot of silent, low tone parts. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/29/24 Full Review James G This movie was truly terrifying. It was very original and fairly easy to follow. Even if it does seem like the main character ignored far too many warning signs, you aren't watching this movie for the plot. It is truly terrifying and deeply unsettling, while also not being overly gore heavy or jumpscare heavy. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review Logan S This movie is sick unlike Hereditary. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/19/24 Full Review Megan K This had me pretty freaked out. Those videos are the stuff of nightmares. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Sinister

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Cast & Crew

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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
Alliance, Blumhouse, Summit Entertainment, Automatik, 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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