Sinister sees the return of suspense to the horror genre. Many recent movies have ignored this in favour of gory visceral thrills. While watching these macabre special effects can prove fascinatingly morbid, the anticipation of frights is usually far scarier. ‘Sinister’ has plenty of spooky happenings as it conjures enough shocks allowing audience’s spines to continually tingle.
Ellison (Ethan Hawke) is a true-crime writer searching for inspiration. He finds it when discovering his new home was the scene of some grisly murders. Keeping this information from his wife Tracy (Juliet Raylance) and two young children, he also uncovers some old home movies. Upon viewing he witnesses a series of brutal killings carried over several decades and notices a shadowy figure in each film. The consequences of his actions become apparent when his family become targets.
Packed with much creepy atmosphere, ‘Sinister’ is aptly titled. From the first disturbing frame, it creates a sense a foreboding not letting go until the final reel. Unlike most in the ‘found footage’ genre, ‘Sinister’ effectively uses this as a springboard to continually grip. Ellison’s selfishness in allowing evil to enter his family’s life is just as concerning as the images he sees. As he explores the mystery, each solved clue to the puzzle potentially adds to his family’s peril.
Scott Derrickson directs with much stylish flair. Although some ‘slamming doors and creaking floor’ moments surface, he ensures these further the intense story. The small cast are strong and rise to the challenge of conveying their characters’ fears without resorting to histrionics. Their attempts in breaking free of the horrific quagmire in which they find themselves are also believably handled.
Whilst we may not admit it, we all love being scared. ‘Sinister’ does the job in providing some surprises and becomes one of the more effective recent shockers eager to jangle nerves.
Reviewed by Patrick Moore
Rating out of 10: 7
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