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Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, Fred Dalton Thompson, James Ransone, Michael Hall D'Addario ... see more see more... , Clare Foley , Rob Riley , Tavis Smiley , Janet Zappala , Victoria Leigh , Cameron Ocasio , Ethan Haberfield , Danielle Kotch , Blake Mizrahi , Nick King , Vincent D'Onofrio

Sinister is a frightening new thriller from the producer of the Paranormal Activity films and the writer-director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Ethan Hawke plays a true crime novelist who discovers a... read more read more... box of mysterious, disturbing home movies that plunge his family into a nightmarish experience of supernatural horror. -- (C) Summit

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61% liked it

66,508 ratings

Critics

63% liked it

123 critics

R, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: Scott Derrickson

Release Date: October 12, 2012

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DVD Release Date: February 19, 2013

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Stats: 5,272 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,272)

  • binky013
    May 18, 2013
    binky013
    GeeeeeZ! Eh, try turning on some lights. I like Peter Howell's "more stupid than scary" comment : )
  • imrealgod
    April 25, 2013
    imrealgod
    Sinister didn't work for me either as mystery or as horror. As far as horror is concerned, children with joker's make-up were hardly scary. The music & the execution are suitable for eighties, if not earlier. The story is too predictable for a mystery flick. Most can figure out o... read moreutright who the wicker ones are, and what is in store. The performances were as good as the script. Despite the predictable plot, I was looking forward for a twisted ending. It managed to disappoint even there. All the same, glad to know that it served well to majority of its viewers thus far.
  • fb1378820053
    April 15, 2013
    fb1378820053
    A
  • LWOODS04
    March 29, 2013
    LWOODS04
    Sinister ended up being a big fat dud for me. I was quite bored with the whole damn thing. Many on here have really liked the movie and have even went as far as to say it's the scariest film they have ever seen. Which I find hard to believe since my 8 year old nephe... read morew said, "Man that movie was awful!" after it went off. I'm actually a little bummed I didn't have the same reaction like those who liked it. I was really looking forward to a good scary flick. Instead I got some cheap predictable scares. I will admit that the story isn't too bad. I mean the whole thing is kind of interesting on what is behind the killings. But everything just seemed so long and a big build up to a disappointing climax.
  • fb100000145236770
    March 19, 2013
    fb100000145236770
    Ethan Hawke stars as a crime story novelist, in need of a new hit. He moves his wife and two kids to a newhome, that housed some murders and finds a box of home movies. Doing his research he watches the movies, which reveal some pretty crazy murders. From there the family star... read morets to be haunted by some dead children and a weird looking figure that shows up in each movie. The atmosphere in this movie is awesome. It has the generic "BOO" moments, but the music and suspense is great. There were a few times the where the tension mounted that I got goose bumps. Ethan Hawke does an awesome job, especially as he gets more and more unhinged. The ending isn't the greatest or anything, but it's very well done. The last few years there's been a lot of bad horror movies, but this is one of the exceptions and is very good. Takes the "haunted" type genre and puts a few unique spins on it. I really liked it, and I'm sure there will be a bunch of sequels, which I'll definitely check out. If your a fan of horror movies then you should absolutely watch this.
  • skactopus
    March 17, 2013
    skactopus
    Scott Derrickson's Sinister lives up to its title.

    Giving the impression that something harmful will happen is what this story does. With that said, the pacing is quite slow and the tone does come across monotone at times. Even the ominous atmosphere isn't enough to pi

    ... read moreck it up.

    The scares are far and few in between and in fact, it isn't all that scary. This isn't necessarily a flaw because this picture works better as a thriller than a straight up horror. In regards to the violence, it is somewhat light for an R rated movie.

    The acting is satisfactory thanks to Ethan Hawke. A solid portion of the 105 minute screen time is all Hawke. Fred Dalton Thompson, Vincent D'Onofrio, James Ransone, and Juliet Rylance successfully fill in the rest of the time.

    Sinister does have its share of pros, along with its share of cons that ultimately cancel each other out.
  • MovieGeek13
    March 8, 2013
    MovieGeek13
    While the story is rather compelling, the visceral Horror elements are trite, conventional, and not scary

    Read my full review at http://horrorbuffs.net/movie/sinister/
  • jlewis07
    March 1, 2013
    jlewis07
    The best horror movie from 2012 that I have seen so far. It actually is very scary and has moments outside of the typical Boo! moments that frighten and is very light on the gore, which is atypical of films in this genre in today's age. This is not one of those fast paced horror ... read moremovies that desensitizes you to the violence by the end (even though the poster suggests it), but rather a deliberately paced and incredibly effective spookfest aimed more at the people who liked the original Paranormal Activity before the series became a cashcow. This isn't a found footage film like Paranormal Activity, but rather one that uses found footage as a part of the story. There's some clever twists and it uses the found footage to enhance the story, rather than as a gimmick. I really don't want to say much about the story, you just have to experience it for yourself, but I found it very satisfying and the ending does not punk out like most horror movies do. Ethan Hawke is effective as the ordinary man and the supporting cast is made up of less known actors, which I like in horror movies because they don't bring any baggage to the role and aren't just their for the paycheck. You feel for the characters and don't see them as other characters they have played before. Sinister offers up some very creepy images and a story that packs a punch. I recommend it to any horror aficionado who is fed up with the current state of the genre like me. It has plenty of surprises up its sleeve.
  • fb840810656
    February 25, 2013
    fb840810656
    "Sinister" is dark, compelling, and scary. Derrickson's direction adds tension to each scene, and Ethan Hawke gives a top notch performance. The end is entertaining, but a bit contrived. Despite this flaw, "Sinister" remains a fun watch for horror enthusiasts. Grade: B
  • blacksheepboy
    February 25, 2013
    blacksheepboy
    Despite the protagonist being a complete moron who stays in a creepy house when all good sense would make him leave, this is a disturbing movie that manages to cause unease with an ominous atmosphere - but this efficient effort is ruined by cheap scares and a terrible ending.

View All Sinister Reviews

Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
October 13, 2012
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

More stupid than scary, Sinister can't even figure out who its real demon is. Full Review

Liam Lacey
October 12, 2012
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A mixed bag of old-school and contemporary horror tricks that occasionally raises a hair prickle of intrigue. Full Review

Rafer Guzman
October 12, 2012
Rafer Guzman, Newsday

Despite some effective bumps and frights, and at least one memorable jolt from a full-throated D'Addario, "Sinister" is mainly just a series of snuff-reels with sick-joke titles ... Full Review

Sara Stewart
October 12, 2012
Sara Stewart, New York Post

C'mon, Ethan Hawke, you're better than this. Isn't there a "Before Sunset" sequel that needs your attention? Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
October 12, 2012
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

The hero of "Sinister" is almost unaccountably dumb. So, unfortunately, is the movie. Full Review

Mark Olsen
October 11, 2012
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times

As the best horror stories so often do, "Sinister" makes clear that we are our own boogeymen, the worst monsters of all. Full Review

Miriam Bale
October 11, 2012
Miriam Bale, New York Daily News

In its plot and even its title, the movie feels like a grab bag of every popular horror trope of the last 30 years. Full Review

Wesley Morris
October 11, 2012
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

As much as "Sinister" wants to tell a story, there isn't much of a story to be told. Full Review

Scott Bowles
October 11, 2012
Scott Bowles, USA Today

Relies more on "gotcha" moments than storytelling. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
October 11, 2012
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Now this is a scary movie. And, given that it's a horror film, that means it's a good one. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Ellison: Tracy, nobody died here. It's not like we're sleeping where somebody was killed or they had to wipe blood off the walls for the open house.
    • Tracy: You're saying it didn't happen here?
    • Ellison: No, no. It happened in the backyard.
    • Tracy: That is so sick! God, you think that makes a difference?
    • Ashley: Don't worry Daddy, I'll make you famous again.
    • Tracy: There are plenty of other ways you can provide for this family.
    • Ellison: Doing what? Teaching? Editing journalism textbooks? Don't you understand that writing is what gives my life meaning? These books are my legacy!
    • Tracy: I have always supported you doing what you love, Ellison. But writing isn't the meaning of your life. You and me, right here, this marriage: that's the meaning of your life. And your legacy? That's Ashley and Trevor. Your kids are your legacy.
    • Tracy: Do you understand what you've done this time? The kind of jeopardy you've put your children in? Your marriage?
    • Ellison: Yes! I do!
    • Tracy: Is there anything you won't do for your goddamn book?!
    • Ellison: We have found you in a box...
    • Trevor: A box?
    • Ellison: Shall I tell you about that time you tried to pee in the dryer?
    • Ellison: Oh my god, it's the missing kids...
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Sinister Trivia

  • In which movie did Macaulay Culkin star as Elijah Woods sinister cousin?  Answer »
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  • Who's sinister voice in on the other end of the phone in the Colin Farrel movie PhoneBooth  Answer »
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