Sinister

Sinister

A credible Hawke holds it together

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Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on May 2013

A self-centered true crime hack (Ethan Hawke) desperate for a new hit book moves his unsuspecting family into a house in which the previous inhabitants were hanged en masse, with one child still missing. He finds some unsettling Super 8 footage that seems to be “family” snuff films, in that entire families are ritually burned, drowned or even lawn-mowered. Ick. Develops like a mystery thriller before plowing into supernatural horror. Ending a bit over the top, but a credible Hawke holds it together. Relentlessly paced, well crafted, above average boo movie with a fittingly discordant score.