Skip to main content

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE Featurette

Sinister Review. Freakishly-Intense Film

Sinister Review 
By: MattInRC 

Make sure to follow MattInRC on twitter for all his reviews.


Sinister might be a little weird and filled with too many horror cliches, but it never gives you a minute to breathe.11 True crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke, Gattaca) hasn't experienced a real hit since his Blood Kentucky novel 10 years before. He's gotten quite a reputation from it, but it's also left him with big shoes to fill. Having struggled ever since and doomed to proof-read textbooks to pay the bills, Ellison needs a hit and soon. But when he and the family move into a house that was the scene of a grisly murder, Ellison thinks he's hit on the story of his life. His wife Tracey (Juliet Rylance, Animal) is supportive but realizes that Ellison needs another hit to keep him going, even though he promises they will return to their real home when his research is completed. He instantly earns the ire of the local sheriff (Fred Dalton Thompson, The Hunt for Red October), who's understandably disgusted with Ellison's skewed opinion that the police are nothing more than inept public servants. Soon, Ellison comes across a box of old home movies and a projector in the attic. These items have suddenly and inexplicably appeared, and soon he understands why: they depict a series of family murders spanning 50 years, where one of the children disappears afterwards. Even though he's stunned as the murders are committed, he can't take his eyes off the screen either. Soon, his home becomes the scene of other bizarre discoveries, none of which he shares with Tracey. As Ellison uncovers more information about the murderer and the pagan symbols he leaves behind, Ellison realizes that he's now entered the murderer's path and must protect his family before they become victims as well.  


Writer/Director Scott Derrickson (The Day The Earth Stood Still 2008) weaves a tale that's at once dark and terrifying, but is also filled with some humorous moments between Hawke and James Ransone (Inside Man) who plays a friendly deputy hoping for a chance to get his name in the credits. These scenes help to move the story but also give the audience a chance to breathe and laugh out the tension which Derrickson has produced. Hawke is terrific as the egomaniacal writer whose obsession with the newly discovered 'evidence' clouds his judgement about the real danger now surrounding his family. His descent into this dark world of murder and the supernatural is well-documented all the way to the terrifying end of the film. Thompson, Ransone, and Rylance all turn in good supporting roles, with each having time on screen to grow their characters without overtaking the story. But there's also some misused and overly-used cliche elements that lessen the film's impact. First, there's the cameo of Vincent D'Onofrio (Law and Order: Criminal Intent) as a university professor of the occult who helps Ellison fill in the missing holes about the pagan symbols. These scenes are meant to be casual conversations over video chat, but I felt like the normal bravado of D'Onofrio was sadly missing. Honestly, I had pegged him as part of the murder chain, but Derrickson does a good job at throwing audiences off the scent with D'Onofrio's appearance. Finally, why Derrickson felt the need to add cliche horror elements of dumb people walking through dark houses with tiny flashlights, failing to involve the police, or ignoring the recurring danger in their attic is beyond me.


Sinister is a freakishly-intense little film that raises the blood pressure and might leave some knuckles permanently white from all the clenching. It reminds us how good this genre can be with solid writing and a cast that can handle the tension. While it's filled with some ridiculous horror cliches that always drag these things down, at least it does so with a style and finish we haven't seen in awhile. It probably won't give other recent openings a run for their money, but Sinister does the horror genre correct, representing an excellent matinee value. Be prepared for a good and unexpected ending, which represents just another wild turn for a well-done film. Sinister is rated R for violence and general horror creepy weirdness, and has a runtime of 110 minutes.

Please Leave A Comment-

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Clip & Release Date For Chaos Walking Starring Tom Holland & Daisy Ridley

In the not too distant future, Todd Hewitt ( Tom Holland ) discovers Viola ( Daisy Ridley ), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by “the Noise” – a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Viola’s life is threatened – and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planet’s dark secrets. .   In theater & IMAX March 5th.   Discuss this with fellow SJF fans on Facebook . On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms Please Leave A Comment-

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania Trailer

In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang ( Paul Rudd ) and Hope Van Dyne ( Evangeline Lilly ) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet Van Dyne ( Michelle Pfeiffer ), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang. Director Peyton Reed returns to direct the film; Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard produce.     Discuss this with fellow SJF fans on Facebook . On Twitter, follow us at @SandwichJohnFilms Please Leave A Comment-

Sex Tape Review: Overly Sexual, Rude, Vulgar, and Absolutely Hilarious

The raunchy Sex Tape will divide audiences and critics, but who cares? Sex Tape suggests a growing practice among loving partners: that of making a raunchy testament of their escapades for posterity. But what happens when that evidence gets seen by friends, neighbors, and even the mailman? This is the plot that pits Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) in an effort to secure every iPad gift Jay has given, his record company playlists being the envy of the recipients, but which has also inadvertently spread the video to every device. The reason for the act - termed in the movie as pulling "the full Lincoln " for its three-hour length - stems from the couple's non-existent social life, brought on by the constant demands of their children. The couple has a lot to lose: a burgeoning business relationship between Annie and Hank (Rob Lowe) could end if the iPad she's given to Hank exposes the video, and so the couple sets out to reclaim and wipe the incrim