Review of Sinister (2012) by Gary N — 01 Sep 2013

A tightly focused atmospheric supernatural horror with decent performances which somewhat offset the victim coda stsples of "don't go up/in/out there" or "why not call the cops & leave".

This effort also relies heavily on "J" horror (Japanese folks!) to unsettle and disturb, a neatly regurgitated homage to the principles of "The Ring". Ethan Hawke's selfless focus on regaining his novelist fame is his gradual undoing & puts his wife and children in grave danger. Hawke finds an ominous box containing several super 8mm films & projector-in the otherwise deserted loft of the new family home, itself the scene and inspiration for his next book. Working his way through the footage reveals a series grisly family murders dating back from 1960's. at this point we would all be on the phone to the police & selling up pronto. However, Hawke's indulgent desire to write his new bestseller outweighs his fear from any apparent serial killer concerns. The Boogie man supernatural elements are partially explained in hum-drum historical asides with an expert. This is a good idea, as the journey here is about Hawke's obsession being the true horror, rather than the what/why/who of the Boogeyman. Very few horrors which focus on the explanation & "origins" or "big reveal" actually work, leaving a sense of dissatisfaction. It might not have any real depth but its a very efficient jumpy, bumps in the night, nerve jangler.