SINISTER (2012)

Summary:

Struggling true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt moves his family into a house where a gruesome murder occurred, hoping to find inspiration for his next book. In the attic, he discovers a box of Super 8 home movies depicting the horrific murders of several families, all seemingly connected by a sinister supernatural entity.

As Ellison delves deeper into the films, he uncovers the terrifying truth about the entity known as Bughuul, a pagan deity who preys on children, compelling them to murder their families before consuming their souls. Ellison soon realizes that his family has become the entity's next target, as the supernatural presence in the house intensifies and threatens to repeat the deadly cycle.

Keywords: Sinister, 2012, Ethan Hawke, Horror, Supernatural, Bughuul, Found Footage.

Plot:

Ellison Oswalt, a once-successful true-crime author, moves his wife Tracy and their two children, Trevor and Ashley, into a new house in rural Pennsylvania. Unbeknownst to his wife, the house was the scene of the brutal murder of the Miller family, who were found hanged from a tree in the backyard a year prior, with their youngest daughter, Stephanie, missing. Ellison intends to secretly investigate the murders and write a new book, hoping to revive his career.

While exploring the attic, Ellison discovers a box containing an old Super 8 projector and several reels of film. Each reel is labeled as a "home movie," but upon viewing them, Ellison is horrified to find they depict the gruesome murders of various families through different methods: drowning, burning, throat-slitting, and bludgeoning. In each film, he notices a mysterious, often blurred, figure watching the events from a distance. Ellison also discovers that in every case, a child from the murdered family went missing, similar to the Miller case.

As Ellison researches, he connects the murders to a pagan deity named Bughuul, also known as "Mr. Boogie," who devours the souls of children after they murder their families. The supernatural occurrences in the house escalate, terrifying Ellison and affecting his children. Trevor begins having night terrors and sleepwalking, while Ashley draws disturbing images of the murders and a sinister figure. Ellison realizes that by moving into the house and watching the films, he has inadvertently invited Bughuul into his family's lives. He learns that the entity uses the home movies as a gateway and possesses one of the children in each family, forcing them to commit the murders and film them, thereby creating new "home movies" for Bughuul.

Desperate to protect his family, Ellison decides to move them out of the house. However, it is too late. Ashley, now fully under Bughuul's influence, poisons her family's cereal with a sedative. As Ellison, Tracy, and Trevor awaken, bound and gagged, Ashley appears, wielding an axe. She brutally murders her parents and brother, meticulously filming the entire act with a Super 8 camera. The film ends with Ashley completing her "home movie," and Bughuul appearing to take her soul, perpetuating the horrifying cycle for another family.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Ethan Hawke as Ellison Oswalt
• Juliet Rylance as Tracy Oswalt
• Fred Dalton Thompson as Sheriff
• James Ransone as Deputy So & So
• Michael Hall D'Addario as Trevor Oswalt
• Clare Foley as Ashley Oswalt

Crew:

• Director: Scott Derrickson
• Writers: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
• Producers: Jason Blum, Oren Peli
• Cinematography: Chris Norr
• Editor: Frédéric Thoraval

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: October 12, 2012 (USA)
• Language: English
• Genre: Horror, Supernatural, Mystery
• Running Time: 110 minutes
• Accolades: Primarily positive critical reception for its atmosphere and scares; box office success, becoming a cult classic within the horror genre.