Sinister - DVD Digital Copy

A die hard horror fan my entire life I've come to understand that for film to genuinely frighten people is something easier said then done. Tired of the same formulas being re hashed over and over it was with some hesitation we streamed the aptly named "Sinister". This is one terrifying movie, a story well told and an instant classic. The cast is superb and performances are top notch all the way around. However, it's Ethan Hawke in perhaps his best performance since "Before the Devil Knows you're dead" who carries the film in a tour de force performance as unsolved murder case writer Ellison Oswalt who when asked early on in an interview if he would ever write for money exclaims "I would rather cut off my hands". We learn quickly that this isn't entirely true as he willingly puts his wife and two young children in harms way. Hawke's descent into some gray fog between terror and madness has a surgical precision to it -- and it's riveting to watch. "Sinister" doesn't waste time as Cinematographer Chris Norr creates an ominous and disturbing world of shadow and light, and the feeling of being watched is palatable. Director and Co Writer Scott Derrickson avoids the expected and cliche' like the plague. Coaxing genuine performances he understands that an audience has to connect with the actors on screen and we do and we do at an almost visceral level. This is smart, terrifying story telling. Aside from a bit of blood splatter there is no gore here and fans of splatter films are sure to be disappointed because "Sinister" does have one pre requisite - it requires you to think an demands you let go. The horror in terms of violent atrocities are suggestive and that too is smart. The greatest horror films that have stood the test of time knew this. They banked on it. The directors knew that nothing, absolutely nothing on the screen can compete with the imagination and that to try is to fail. Roger Ebert whom I have great admiration and respect for was disappointed that the demons identity is revealed so early in the film. But I disagree. In "Fallen" we know very early in the film the demon is Azazel, in "The Rite" we learn almost immediately Anthony Hopkins is possessed by a demon named Baal and of course the early introduction of the big cheese himself - Satan - makes an appearance early on in many films including such legendary classics as the Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby. "Sinister" is not so much a film of possession, it doesn't drag in the over played Church versus Demon formula that requires you to believe in God for any chance of absolution from the terror unfolding on the screen. It's a deliberate and welcome choice. Impressive cameos by both Fred Thompson as sheriff and an uncredited performance as a famous professor of the occult is wonderfully played by accomplished actor Vincent D'Onofrio. A Solid cast, un nerving and deeply disturbing "Sinister" is a haunting and impeccable made film. "Sinister" shows us that things really do go bump in the night and the dire consequences when we bump back. Read more

Seriously one of the best horror films ever. And, I should say, I did not think that the first time I watched it! In fact, I was looking for films to watch in October, saw Sinister, and I was, like, "I think I saw that..." I recognized the synopsis only a little, decided to watch it, maybe again. As soon as the first image of the family with the tree came on, I knew I'd seen Sinister before. Apparently it had not made a huge impression on me. But this second time through -- WOW! I am seriously NOT into supernatural stuff, but this film really got to me. Sure, the dad made some stupid decisions, and that's the way of horror films, no? We call those decisions stupid from the comfort of our couches, but in reality, aren't those the kinds of decisions people under pressure make every day? Anyway, I don't want to put any spoilers into this review. Suffice to say that I found this film interesting, engaging, and I think the concept is genuinely scary. Also, btw, Sinister 2 is almost as good. Rent -- or buy, that's what I did -- both those films now! Read more

This has to be one of my favorite horror movies I seen from Sinister. Read more

Disclaimer: I've loved Ethan Hawke since "Dead Poets Sociey." But I'm also a huge horror movie fan so would have seen "Sinister" regardless of his starring role. As others have commented -- and as I comment in all my reviews of horror movies -- the bar has been set pretty low for horror flicks in the past few years, and I've wondered if all the good material has been used up. "Sinister" does borrow a lot from other films; most notably it borrows its central theme from "The Shining." Hawke plays a true crime writer (in real life he is a writer in addition to an actor, which added something to the movie for me), looking to reclaim the glory of his past success. He's also a husband and father who has obligations which compete with his career aspirations. Although his character, Ellison Oswalt, is a much better father than Jack Nicholson's character in "The Shining," there is definitely a comparison to be made here in terms of men feeling like their wife and kids are weighing them down a bit. There's also a found footage aspect which is central to the plot, and a kind of, sort of haunted house they're living in where the family Ellison is writing about was murdered. For all of its tried and true plot points, I will say that for the first time in a long time while watching a horror movie, I wasn't able to figure out the ending until it ended -- which I consider to be a huge plus. However I'm not sure if my inability to guess the culmination of events didn't have something to do with the film's odd pacing. I felt like it started in the middle of the first act...there was very little scene setting...we're in the thick of things pretty much from the get go. And then when I thought I was at the end of the second act, it turned out I was in the middle of the third -- there's a sudden, rapid acceleration of the plot that's kind of jarring. On a positive note, this was a refreshing change from movies that go on and on. What does happen in "Sinister?" Actually, not much. Most of the movie takes place in and on the grounds of the murder victims' house -- we frequently see their murder scene replayed throughout the movie (in fact, this is the first image we see). Ellison spends most of the time in his home office watching old Super 8 films he found in the creepy attic that depict homicides of additional families in other locations. We're supposed to believe that Ellison's desire for another best seller keeps him from turning this footage over to the authorities. As he investigates the murders spooky things happen in the house, he uncovers a few details that shed some light on the situation, yadda yadda yadda, I don't like to give too much away. The key here is "supposed to believe," and a lot of Ellison's actions in the movie aren't believable, but Hawke's acting is, thereby redeeming the weak plotting (other reviewers say this too). Another thing that at least one other reviewer commented on is that the lights in the house are always off; one of the first scenes is the family eating dinner together in the near dark. This did add a lot to the creepy feeling of the movie, but it was also disctracting as every time I saw a light switch in the background I wanted to scream, "Turn on the lights!" at my TV. There is a scene where a law enforcement officer whose character resembles Dewey from the "Scream" franchise says something to Ellison along the lines of, "If I lived in this house I'd sleep with the lights on," and it perhaps came off as more comical than it should have. I still found the movie to be effective because it doesn't give itself away and the found footage is disturbing without being gross -- although this movie is certainly not suitable for kids or anyone with delicate sensibilities and overall, the movie is perhaps beyond disturbing (but you have to get to the end to find out how much so). I watched it yesterday and am still a little creeped out. I like it better the day after than I did while I was watching it...although I certainly didn't want to fast forward...which for a horror movie these days is definitely not a bad thing. Read more