By Mario Martinez—

Nonfiction crime writer Ellison Oswald (Ethan Hawke) moves into a house with his wife (Juliet Rylance) and two kids, where the former residents were hung in the backyard, in hopes to write a novel about the murder that will rejuvenate his career. Upon settling in the home, Ellison discovers a box filled with Super 8 films and a projector in the attic. The films are chilling footage of the lynching that took place in the backyard and of three other families being heinously executed. Ellison sees this as his opportunity return to fame; however, by viewing the Super 8 films, he has unknowingly opened the gateway for a demonic entity that begins to terrorize his family.

From the same producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, Sinister is a horror-thriller that is disturbing and creepy from the very second it begins. Sinister is not like any movie of recent years, being that it is not predicated on ghoulish beings popping out at you or watching a sadistic killer torture his victims. The footage of the execution style murders are odiously chilling, giving the audience a first-person perspective of a diabolical killer.

With no music score at all, Sinister relies heavily on the use of ominous tones and the shrill sounds to sonically spook you. It is a very dark and quiet film that moves at a slow, suspenseful pace which some might not like. However, if you’re one who is terrified by the sound of unexplained creeks and thumps in the middle of the night, this movie will certainly give you goosebumps.

Regardless of who you are, you will undoubtedly cringe when you witness the executions which closely resemble snuff-film footage. Though it is predictable (What scary movie isn’t?) and cheesy at some points, the storyline to Sinister is well put together. I thought the ending was solid, though some critics seem to disagree.

3.5 out of 5 Stars