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

Oct 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

Oct 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

Oct 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, 2025

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

Sep 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

Oct 16, 2022

4.5/5

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

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Alec H

@alechbt 2 hrs ago

Sinister is one of those rare horror films where sound design completely transforms the images. The home videos are disturbing mainly because of the soundtrack behind them, and the atmosphere becomes genuinely terrifying without relying on constant jump scares. I also loved how the family dynamic feels believable and grounded instead of being forced into unnecessary conflict, which makes the tragedy hit much harder. Ethan Hawke and Juliet Rylance are excellent, and the final act feels tragic but completely earned. A deeply effective horror film with outstanding atmosphere and sound design.

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Gunner I

@RT64755212 Sep 26, 2026

This is definitely a movie worth watching. It is extremely creepy. I could watch it again and not be disappointed at all.

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Micaela M

@RT84380809 Sep 20, 2026

I think overall, this movie is definitely worth watching. Very interesting storyline and plot, although the main character will very quickly start to piss you off. Honestly though, I think what kept me hooked was the reputation this movie had of being really "scary" and intense blah blah but by the end of the movie, I did find myself feeling unsatisfied. I understood what was happening, but I wanted even more lore, even more uncovering of history, more details on the ghoul, etc and it fell short in that area. By the time the end of the movie came and the ending played out the way it did, I literally said out loud "thats it??" They spent the whole movie building this story hyping up this crazy lore just for it to end in a rushed kind of way. But eh it was entertaining.

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Ashley H

@RT83301375 Sep 19, 2026

Unique story - creepy

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 4, 2026

Sinister = a *3 and 1/2* star movie!

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Musa A

@doodleflame Aug 19, 2026

One of the scariest horror movies I've ever seen, and I've seen tens. In my top 3 scary movies!

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Scott Derrickson

Director

Ethan Hawke

Ellison

Vincent D'Onofrio

Prof. Jonas

James Ransone

Deputy

Fred Dalton Thompson

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Clare Foley

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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

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