Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Scary, intense horror film involves kids and murder.
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Sinister
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Based on 95 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a uniquely terrifying horror experience that combines a compelling mystery with disturbing imagery, although opinions on the scariness vary greatly. While many appreciate its suspense and chilling atmosphere, some found it less frightening than expected, highlighting that it contains minimal graphic gore, relying instead on implied violence and well-executed jump scares.
- intense mystery
- disturbing imagery
- mixed scariness
- implied violence
- suitable for teens
- creative scares
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
True crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) arrives in a small town with his wife (Juliet Rylance) and two kids -- Trevor (Michael Hall D'Addario) and Ashley (Clare Foley) -- in tow, preparing to work on his latest book. He's writing about a family of four that was murdered, hung simultaneously from a tree, after which the youngest daughter disappeared. Unfortunately, Ellison has chosen to move into the murder house itself, where he finds a box of Super 8 films that depict the actual murder, as well as several others. As he pieces the puzzle together, strange and terrifying things begin to happen. Ellison's life becomes a race to finish the book before he and his family become too deeply involved in a deadly situation.
Is It Any Good?
Writer/director Scott Derrickson has a touch for using old horror movie tools to create new scares, and he also incorporates several interesting themes into SINISTER. Even if some of his attempts don't quite work some of the time, he still gets credit for trying. To start, he's created an interesting character in Ellison, who's struggling between recapturing his former glory and keeping his family safe, pulled helplessly in two directions at once. And Hawke -- wearing a funny, puffy "grandpa" sweater and shoes -- emphasizes a fascinating clash between courage and weakness in his performance.
Derrickson does pack too many concepts into his story, mixing the supernatural with the mysterious, and it doesn't quite come together; the themes become jumbled up by the final payoff. But the movie has some terrifying, startling moments, mainly thanks to a crafty, strangely prickly music score by Christopher Young. Sinister won't hold up to scrutiny, but it's worth a look for horror fans.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sinister's violence, which occurs mostly in the Super 8 films the main character watches. How did it affect you? How did it compare to other horror movies you've seen?
Is Sinister scary? What were the scariest parts? Were they sudden jumps, or did it feel slower and creepier?
What's the appeal of horror movies like Sinister?
How does the movie depict drinking? Are there realistic consequences?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 12, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : February 19, 2013
- Cast : Ethan Hawke , Fred Dalton Thompson , Juliet Rylance
- Director : Scott Derrickson
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Summit Entertainment
- Genre : Horror
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : disturbing violent images and some terror
- Last updated : April 4, 2024
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