Review of Sinister 2 (2015) by M A — 29 Aug 2016

The 2012 film, Sinister, broke onto the scene as a sleeper hit at the box office. The film was the perfect antidote to the hit-you-over-the-head-with-scares tactic that many other horror movies seemed to be using. Instead of the obvious horror tropes, director Scott Derrickson employed a chilling atmosphere and equally eerie soundtrack to create an unrelenting tension throughout the entire film. In the villainous architect of all the mayhem, Bughuul, moviegoers were treated to a dark and mysterious creature that I would argue is the first horror monster to truly scare since Wes Craven's Freddy Kruger.

Naturally, producer Jason Blum of Paranormal Activity and Insidious fame sought to recapture the magic of that first film with this newly released sequel. This film picks up after the events of the previous one. The main protagonist is Deputy So & So who assisted Ethan Hawke's ill-fated author in the previous film. Haunted by the revelations that were uncovered about Bughuul willing children into murdering their families, the deputy takes it upon himself to destroy all physical remnants of the monster and to prevent any future tragedies. There's only one problem...a new family may already be on their way to the same horrific fate!

The mythology that was established in the first film is imperative to understanding the plot and character motivation in this one. As such, you should really see that film before giving this one a watch. In the first film, Bughuul was a terrifying presence who created fear and anxiety even when he was not on the screen. The success of that story hinged upon the audience discovering the ghastly secrets of Baghuul along with the characters. Sadly, this sequel fails to live up to the high bar that its predecessor set. With all of the answers explained in that film, this one fails to recreate the same sense of dread and discovery. The mythology trumps any chance at new revelations or surprises, making this film a plodding progression to an inevitable conclusion.The subtlety of the previous film is discarded in favor of the usual jump scares that permeate most films of the genre. As such, it feels as if this movie simultaneously has too much Baghuul and not nearly enough of him. If you watched and enjoyed the first movie, this one can be a fun continuation of that story. Still, don't be surprised if you come out of this one disappointed.