Ethan Hawke Goes to the Movies

Sinister

Well alright kiddos.  So this was QUITE the haunting weekend.  I went to 2 different events on Friday night, both with several haunted attractions.  That will be covered in a later update, because I want to do a review of Sinister while it’s still fresh in my mind.  I’ve been waiting for a while for this one to come out.  Sinister debuted at SXSW this year to rave reviews, and ever since then, there has been plenty of very good build-up to this flick.  I don’t recall any other Ethan Hawke horror flicks before this one, but good for him.  All in all, this movie does not disappoint.

If you’re thinking about seeing the movie in theaters, I’d recommend skipping this blog, but at the same time I’ll try not to give too much away.  Sinister is the story of a non-fiction crime writer who moves to a small town not long after a brutal tragedy has taken place.  He is planning on writing a book about the unsolved murders, much to the dismay of the local police.  But very soon, he finds a strange box of family movies in the attic.  Only to find that these movies document a series of horrific murders.  And that’s not all…  some strange happenings begin to take place.  Who’s making that noise in the attic?  And what’s that figure that keeps showing up in the films?  Ugh, yikes. Hide ya kids. Hide ya wife.

So yeah… this movie is really really creepy.  The story is very good, and it stays strong all the way through the end.  I think a common theme with really good horror movies is that they use very simple tactics to keep us on the edge of our seats.  This is no different.  There’s a lot of the same suspense repeated throughout the movie, but it’s pretty scary every time.  Granted, I think they could have had a better climax to the movie, but that’s not to say that the one they’ve got is bad.  It’s a solid ending, but it could have been great.

Put away your 8 mm projector, and let’s dive into this flick and take A Closer Look

Villain: A Demon living within some old films that possesses people to committing gruesome murders

How Do I Stop It?: Well, I would hope that if you ever come across a snuff film, you turn it off immediately when you figure out what it is.  But if you do expose yourself to this guy, I wish you luck.  Because quite honestly, I don’t know how to stop him.

Lessons Learned: Messing around with paranormal stuff is just not a good idea.  I don’t care if you’re a believer or not.  Let’s just say I won’t be looking to buy a house any time soon where people were horribly murdered.  Also, paranormal or not.. If you find some weird snuff films in your attic, stop watching them, you sicko.  The fact that you’re writing a novel about the murders doesn’t make that acceptable.

Who Do I Watch With?: Someone you don’t mind cuddling up next to.  It’s pretty scary.

Rating the Flick

Scare Factor: Unholy! 8/10

This is a very solid flick in terms of scares.  I’d say I spent a good 50% of the overall movie at least a little nervous, and there are some really good moments throughout that will get you to jump.  The demon’s face alone is enough to send a chill down your spine.  Scary stuff.

Villain: 6/10

So I kind of struggled here.  It’s definitely creepy as hell, without question.  But as I was saying before, the climax of the movie could have been way scarier, if you ask me.  Had they used the Demon a little better, this would have been a 9 or 10.

Gore Rating: Barely Bloody Machete

There’s not too much in terms of blood and guts.  There are some really disturbing scenes (mostly in the films themselves), but in terms of actual gore, you don’t have too much to worry about here.  It’s just a matter of getting past the snuff.

Overall Rating: 4/5 Demon-O-Lanterns

 

This is a really solid flick, and it’s right on time for the peak Halloween season.  Really creepy, disturbing stuff here.  The acting is good, the directing is also pretty solid.  There are a few “jumpy” scenes in the middle of the movie that kind of don’t belong, but other than that, I’d say they did a very good job with it.  The movie has an upsetting tone throughout the duration, and even though they do give a tiny bit of comic relief, it’s not enough to let you get comfortable.  So when it’s all said and done, you’re in for a pretty scary ride.

There you have it.  Sinister is in a theater near you, and it’s a definite win for this Halloween season.  So get out there and see it while you still can.

Now, I have some catching up to do.  This week you should be getting another update about both Halloweekends at Cedar Point, as well as a review of Lake Erie Fear Fest at Ghostly Manor entertainment center, in Sandusky, OH.  Also, I’m still hoping to do a run-down of all the spooky happenings on tv in the next few weeks.  So now more than ever, it’s crucial that you’re signed up for e-mail updates.  If you haven’t yet, be sure to Unleash Hell at the top right!

Until next time, enjoy the show…

-Dvo