Sinister

Play trailer

2:26

Sinister

R

2012

1h 49m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

Crime

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

64%

Tomatometer

155 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

True-crime writer Ellison Oswald is in a slump; he hasn't had a bestseller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.

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Critics Consensus

Its plot hinges on typically implausible horror-movie behavior and recycles countless genre cliches, but Sinister delivers a surprising number of fresh, diabolical twists.

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Peter Howell

Toronto Star

10/13/2012

2/4

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

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Kevin C. Johnson

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

10/12/2012

3.5/4

It comes together with a gruesome though excellent ending that some will find difficult to shake.

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Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

10/12/2012

2/4

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

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 18

6/10

I can see why people like this movie and keep bringing it up to us. It’s got a distinctive dark tone while still being very approachable for mainstream audiences. It’s like if The Crow had a baby with The Nun from The Conjuring.

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Patrick Cavanaugh

The Wolfman Cometh

09/22/2023

3/5

A number of sequences are undeniably unsettling and effective, yet its narrative seems to only be a device to deliver those encounters.

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Cassondra Feltus

Black Girl Nerds

10/16/2022

4.5/5

'Sinister' remains one of the most original horror movies out there.

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Marta K

@maraa_ Jul 1

one of my favourite horror movies. love the was the main antagonist operates - the idea is so simple yet so affective. to me it is such a good movie and would definitely recommend it to others

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Michael R

@Michael_Ramirez Jun 30

Solid horror movie. Ethan Hawke, Julie Ryland and Ziggy from The Wire were great in it. The plot was better than the ending, which is usually the case in horror movies.

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Aiden T

@ARandomReviewer Jun 26

Hot damn, this film was a dry brisket. Why on earth is the house so dark when the sun is up high into the sky!? Like, during the scene with the kids in the hallway, dude, just turn around or just move out when you hear about the murder and study it from afar. Overall, a boring watch, and John Sinister needs to be more sinister.

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Thomas C

@RT50225089 Jun 26

Turn on the lights use ur braincells and please when u see ur daughters gonna become a serial killer before she kills u send her to an insane asylum

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minevole T

@RT25213173 Jun 26

I'd rather be murdered by my own future child on film than live through this horrendous movie every again.

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Aakarshan T

@Aakarshan Jun 26

Everything about this movie is not sinister. The jumpscares feel awfully executed as they are not scary at all, and if I was in Ellison's shoes, the moment I see the tapes is the last time I would ever step foot in the house. It is also to note that the characters felt awfully idiotic, because in most situations it literally felt like Ellison was walking into a pit of fire. Barely any good use of camera angles at all as well. Also, it is worth noting from me that the entire movie I was confused WHY they did not turn on the lights when it was the morning. IT WAS SO DARK for no reason. Overall, this movie is laughably bad.

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Scott Derrickson

Director

Ethan Hawke

Ellison

Vincent D'Onofrio

Prof. Jonas

James Ransone

Deputy

Fred Dalton Thompson

Sheriff

Clare Foley

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Sinister: Trailer 1

2:26

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Synopsis

True-crime writer Ellison Oswald is in a slump; he hasn't had a bestseller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.

Director: Scott Derrickson
Producer: Jason Blum, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones
Screenwriter: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
Distributor: Summit Entertainment
Production Co: Automatik, Summit Entertainment, Alliance, Blumhouse, IM Global
Rating: R (Some Terror|Disturbing Violent Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 12, 2012, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $48.1M
Runtime: 1h 49m