October 31, 2012

If you’re searching for Halloween horror look no further than Sinister – a horror film that stands true to the genre. The film follows true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), who is investing the recent murder of a family who are lynched in their back yard, along with trying to solve the case of the family’s missing daughter.

Without telling his family about the house’s history so as to not alarm them, Ellison moves his family to the home that belonged to the murder victims. Ellison is struggling, both financially and with the idea that his fifteen minutes of fame might be up. Determined to make it back on the best sellers list, Ellison is ready to pour his heart and soul into this new book.

While unpacking Ellison finds a box of home movies along with a projector. The movies start with a family activity juxtaposed with scenes of the family’s brutal murder. A disturbed Ellison notices a symbol in each tape – along with a demonic figure witnessing each murder from afar: this is when the horror begins.

The film employs a “found footage” style when it comes to the murders. Every movie is shot off Super 8 film. The grainy footage makes the scenes even more terrifying because it adds an element of realism to it.

The use of audio is stunning, making the audience sit on the edge of their seats while biting their nails in suspense. The creepy sound of children counting and the sound of a death moan may sound cheesy – but not when it comes to Sinister; which pulled it off perfectly.

Overall, Sinister is an amazing horror film that will leave you shaking under the covers the night after viewing. One of the more haunting scenes in the film will make you second guess whether of not you really want to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom or get a drink of water. After all, isn’t that what we all want from a horror movie?