Review of Sinister (2012) by Mike D — 12 May 2014

There's no shortage of supernatural horror films that have made it to the big screen in the past few years. Many have made a big splash and soon after faded from memory, while others saw modest box office grosses but found an audience after the fact.

Scott Derrickson's 'Sinister' fits more in the latter camp. The low-budget scare-a-thon boasts the underrated Ethan Hawke (and a worn out Bennington College t-shirt) in a role as a crime writer who is bent on penning his next novel based on the massacre of a family and disappearance of the youngest family member.

Of course, unbeknownst to Hawke's family, the very house in which they move into belonged to none other than this family, and unsurprisingly, creepy things start happening all over the place. Besides the fact that some of the things stumbled upon in 'Sinister' are genuinely, terribly frightening, there are other aspects that make it work.

For one, the psychological factor present throughout the film really causes the audience to pay attention and think things through. Sure, there are a handful of cheap scares thrown in for good measure, but the overall piecing together of the puzzle in 'Sinister' is interesting enough to keep viewers engaged.

Additionally, the soundtrack plays a big role in the film, and is as important as the characters showcased, both those human and not. And even though the "twist" at the end is pretty easy to see coming, it still has the intended effect.

'Sinister' is not a flashy, over-the-top, and that's what really benefits it compared to other similar films.