MikePA's Movie Review of Sinister

Review: Sinister
MikePA - wrote on 10/13/12

For the last couple of years, I've always had light expectations when it came to horror films. That's because they've been so effortless and cheesy and ridiculously bad, and the ones that look great aren't so great. The last horror film I remember having high anticipations for was last year's Insidious, which I thought was average. 2012 has been a mostly poor year for the horror genre, with the disappointing The Woman in Black and Prometheus, and the dreadfully bad V/H/S and The Devil Inside. The Cabin in the Woods and The Innkeepers were the only horror films this year that I liked, and since I first saw the trailer for Sinister, I ain't gonna lie, I had high hopes. Is Sinister actually good?

Fortunately, the answer is a big YES. Sinister is a horror movie that works. It's smart, it's scary, and it's satisfying. It gets the job done. I also want to say that the very first shot of Sinister grabbed me. It's not only interesting as hell, but it prepares you for the fear, the darkness, and the questions to come. It may be the best opening shot of the year.

One of the many things that Sinister does well executing is story. It's, for the most part, a pretty simple concept that grows more complex as it moves, delivering dark and diabolical left turns that work well. These twists don't get too corny, nor do they change the overall feel and mood of the movie like Insidious did (well at least in my opinion).

Ethan Hawke is delivers a pretty effective performance as the central character, as well as most of the other cast. Juliet Rylance, who plays Hawke's wife, wasn't so good, though. Just saying. Ethan Hawke's character is given a surprising amount of depth. We basically experience his stress and madness as he gets caught up in this story that brings him into dark and scary parts. While we won't really get invested in his character emotionally, we still like the guy and root for him. The other characters are introduced well, and they're given the amount of screen time they generally need, so that's pretty much fine.

Director Scott Derrickson has a good head when it comes to delivering scares and suspense. The movie offers genuine scares. A lot of creepy and startling moments. Mr. Boogie scared the shit out of me, especially when you first see him walking in the pool. What I liked that Derrickson did was give the film a very, very dark look. It's clear that there wasn't much lighting used in the filming process, and I liked that because it gives the movie more suspense and eerieness, especially in the scenes that include Ethan Hawke walking down the wallway investigating the strange sounds at night. At some points it's so dark you can barely see like 75% of what's in the shot, and again, I totally dug that. Tonally, stylishly, and story wise, Sinister is a film of darkness.

Sinister is a horror movie made with effort and care. It's creepy and entertaining, and the climax is pretty darn awesome. Have at it!

3/4