Movie rating: 3 Star

Sinister

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A scaled back horror movie from the director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and (shudder) The Day the Earth Stood Still, the concept here is a familiar one but the execution admirably low-key. Not a million miles away from the slightly more schlocky (and better) Insidious, it at least attempts to engage properly before amping up the tension. Hawke's crime writer is about as likeable as a Serbian war criminal, though.

Opening with a shot of a family being slowly hung from a tree, the very next scene is Hawke's writer, his ridiculously understanding missus and their two kids moving into the same gaff. We soon learn that Hawke's character is a crime writer who has previously pissed off the local fuzz in his investigative books. See, he writes about murders and isn't always nice about how the police handled the cases he's profiling. He also failed to mention to the aforementioned other half that the house he's shifted his family to is a crime scene. As he researches and works away on his book, things start going bump in the night.

Comparisons to recent horror movies are pretty much a given; where Insidious shone was its first hour of sporadic chills breaking up the unbearable tension. Sinister is more about the impending sense of dread than momentarily putting the shits up you. Derrickson spends a long time setting his main character up, and it takes a long time for anything really worthwhile to actually happen. There's a lot resting here on the creepy super 8 footage that plays throughout and there are definite pangs of The Ring and Paranormal Activity - there's not a whole lot about Sinister that's original. But said footage is - initially at least - downright chilling.

But it does work. Hawke is an unusual choice as a leading man for a genre film such as this, and while his guy is hilariously selfish it's more how ridiculously amiable the wife is that makes him unbearable. The trick with horror flicks is to have some form of empathy for those in peril; that's why no one cares when hot teens are decapitated by hooded fishermen in slasher movies.

Atmospheric and nicely structured, it's a solid entry to the haunted house canon.

Review by Mike Sheridan | 15:26 | Friday 5th October 2012 | Movie Review

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Comments

• Jeroen Blancke

  One of the worst horror movies seen in years! Nothing happens except a few flashing scenes... Half way through the film, you already know the ending of the movie! BAD BAD BAD!

  Posted 08:34 | Sat 6th Oct 2012

• breege

  terrible film , you would have more fun watching paint dry .rubbish, rubbish ,

  Posted 01:53 | Mon 8th Oct 2012

• Bertaut

  I agree completely with Mr. Blancke. Appalling film. Throws every cliche in the book at you and does it badly. The final attempt to scare people elicited groans of derision from the audience with whom I watched the film. And that's a Cineworld audience. Not exactly the most intellectually discerning of cineastes!

  Posted 03:47 | Sun 21st Oct 2012

• FilmBuff76

  As a seasoned horror fan, I really enjoyed Sinister. It's a slow-burner, but the build-up is tense.

  Posted 00:08 | Tue 9th Oct 2012

• Rachel Keaveney

  i was so excited going to see this film but i must say i was quite disapointed it was not scary in anyway horror films need a big update :( waste of money if ya wanna c it wait till out on dvd and even then ya may wish ya didnt bother

  Posted 12:53 | Tue 9th Oct 2012

• Mark Roche

  I went to see sinister last night now and i thought it was not that scary now but it took a good while for the movie to get going but when it did it was ok i have seen worse now but i wud give it 3 stars

  Posted 14:06 | Mon 15th Oct 2012

• Bridgie00

  Not as good as insidious... But had a few scary moments, would recommend if you like scary movies.

  Posted 20:08 | Mon 5th Nov 2012

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