Honestly, I think we’re supposed to feel bad for his family, not him. He causes the disaster that befalls him due to selfishness and greed. But that’s how I interpreted the movie. It’s still one of my top horrors. Was definitely one of the best that came out in that time
Totally agree! His poor wife! the writer confirmed in an interview that they intended to make him a fear of theirs. But it’s sad you never get to see the ending for his family!
It's not really greed for him, he use to be legit journalist and helped police solve some crimes, then he became famous and did it for money. So he thought this case could both inspire him to write another book and make his return, while in process he would do some good and help solve the case.
I think what made Sinister so effective for me was the sound design. It created an atmosphere of pure dread. I'm gonna go rewatch it and return to this video later!
You seriously nailed exactly how I feel about this movie! There are so many aspects I love, yet so many weird choices I don’t love. I wish there was an edit of this movie where every 🤫 moment is cut. On the topic of the drawings - I teach art classes for children, and nothing takes me out of a movie more than drawings that are meant to be done by a child that are CLEARLY done by an adult. It completely ruins my suspension of disbelief. So it makes me extra mad when the drawings don’t even serve the plot in a good way! Such an unfortunate horror trope
Wow that’s a really interesting point about the drawing Emma, also I noticed all of the drawings are exactly the same style! Looks like they were obviously done by the same person
@@Craig121000 Really? He literally said he was disturbed. Just because someone likes a horror movie doesn't mean it reflects to them. It's like saying people who enjoy horror movies are psychopaths.
@@Craig121000 “sociopaths” aren’t even a rigidly defined thing, it’s more a collection of traits that *can* be defined as “sociopath” by a doctor if they decide to or find it helpful.
As a parent, watching SINISTER on the big screen filled me with dread. The lawnmower and pool scenes really did a number on me. It was more disturbing than scary. That’s a remarkable achievement for a wide mainstream film.
Saw at the cinema, the film scared me So when I got home I had to unwind. Well my eight year old snuck up on me and I screamed (this was late at night) she was thirsty, I got her something to drink and ended up staying up all night with the lights on.
7:20 - Oh, God YES! Those "plasma kids" ruined the second half of Sinister for me. They took me out of the movie compeltely, and that's even more unforgiveable considering how creepy the first half is.
I am willing to overlook the last couple of minutes of the movie due to the awesome horror it delivered throughout (IMO). It was definitely spooky, and what more can I ask for?
I have been a horror fan for what seems like my whole life but it wasn’t until I made my mum watch Sinister she started watching horror with me. Without this movie I wouldn’t have a mum who is now addicted to the genre and someone to always see new horror movies with. That’s how good the first one was!
I never get tired of sharing my experience seeing SINISTER in theaters (I was in high school)… my date tells me last minute she hates scary movies so she bailed. I still wanted to see it so I went alone. There were a few scattered couples and groups in the theater. About an hour and 15 minutes into it, I’m shaking uncontrollably, my chest was tight, and I was hyperventilating. I had to get up and leave. As soon as I got outside I sat down thinking I was gonna pass out. I took a breather, got myself together, and drove home very on edge. The following weekend I went to see it again, this time with a group of friends… it was still terrifying but I was able to sit thru it. No movie has scared me as much as SINISTER did, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. Easily the best horror film of 2012
It did exactly what it was supposed to do. I’d argue Sinister was the best horror movie of the 2010s. There haven’t been many horror movies nowadays that truly push the envelope and everybody nailed it.
Scott had a lot of studio pressure. They forced the final face jump scare upon him. And I'm sure at that point he didn't have the clout to get away with murder.
It is a partially perfect film, getting a bit trope-heavy / caving into what marketing thinks horror fans want at the end. I think a partially perfect film is still much better than most offerings we’ve seen during that era.
Honestly sinister when it first came out it was one of the greats, it wasn't campy paranormal activity trying to be scary with a low budget, It had a unique bad guy with a unique power set and what he was after, It felt like the first insidious film, and the first conjuring film, having an actual horror guy who wins, the second one..... I didn't know it came out till 2019, lol, it wasnt as good as the first, having the big bad trying to try over one twin and then the other being jealous and then trying to prove himself, was a good mix on the first one, but didn't hit as hard as I didn't care about any of the characters
@@guthrielindquist1 it had elements of what's the only thing we can do that the first film did, and that was watch the kids get possessed, and the twist of the other twin being taking over, was a good twist, But I didn't care about the the sub plot with their dad or the mum, or the deputy from the last film, but it was scary as the first one was, it was classes jump scar for jump scar sake
I watched it for the first time recently and you put into words what I couldn't. I liked the movie, but I felt like the disconnect between the raw, gritty snuff footage and the highly stylized actions of the kids took some of the fear out of it.
I've only seen Sinister once, but from what I can remember you're right about it going "too far". And the ending felt rushed too. Great video, as always!
I'm glad you've covered this film. I come back to this film time and again and I love some aspects of it, but it's far from perfect. I get this nightmarish feel from the found footage parts, but it's never completely satisfied me as a film. You've done a fantastic job of explaining why this is, as I could never put my finger on why it fell short. Thank you for the awesome video!
Sinister was awesome! In my opinion, Sinister and Hereditary are the only 2 actual scary movies I've seen in about 20 years. Truly scary movies are haunting, and these two linger on in your thoughts even after the movie has ended.
I rewatched it for the second time last week and if they stuck with a more subtle and dark them like Hereditary, this film would be classic. The reveal of Bughoul, the jump scares and the killer kids really took me out of it during my rewatch.
Everything you’ve said about sinister is EXACTLY how I’ve always felt about it. The children are not done well at all. They do cheapen the pure brutality and horror that should be able to stand above every other element. I also do not understand why this supposedly ancient demon wears a suit and tie. I think sinister deserves a rewrite because there are kernels of genius within the final mess that deserve to be in a great film
@@spookyastronauts I strongly feel that Bagul should have been a satanic cult leader/serial killer from the 70s. He had the look, he groomed children to follow him, the deaths have dated back to the mid century. In that way he does sort of remind me of a figure like Charles Manson. I think that would have strengthened the ghost children as well as origin story.
There are few films I have seen that are truly terrifying, yet I keep wanting to revisit. For me, Sinister is that perfect blend of pure horror wrapped in an enigmatic mystery. The more the main character learns, the more horrific the story becomes. As with the film "Angel Heart", the lesson is "how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise". As for the villain Bughuul, I did like the lore behind him. If he was revealed to be some kind of ghost or demon, then that is a threat which can be dealt with. A ghost can "pass on" to its eternal rest and a demon can be dealt with through religious means. However, a pagan god villain is much rarer in movies. The lore has "less rules" and can represent anything from ancient mythology before the dawn of man to the abstract of "the darkness of man's soul" brought into existence. Evil doesn't need an explanation, it just exists. Ethan Hawke's character just fell into its trap by being obsessed with the mystery and not thinking about his family.
In total agreement. I really am enjoying movies that tap into ancient paganism or folk lore. It seems scarier to me...primitive. Also the music in this movie creeps me out more than anything. It brings dread and with the lights off in a old Victorian house that has her share of visitors...I get spooked for sure!
I am obsessed with this movie. Watched it dozens of times and it still makes me keep the lights on all night and worry that an entity is out there about to murder me. Such an effective, terrifying, horrific film. But watching a family hang still haunts my dreams. Personally think THAT part was far far faaar too much. GOD!
I'm only about 3/4 of the way through, but this sounds SO much like a book I'm reading atm, Home Before Dark. The author says she was inspired by the Amityville Horror, but it is so similar to the Sinister storyline; writer dad, dad uproots family, does things that endanger his family for his story. I haven't watched Sinister in years, so I'm curious to watch it again and see how similar it is to this book. Great vid, Emma!
Cool fact about the outro track of Sinister from Christopher Young; Apparently he sometimes dreams of songs and tries to replicate them when awake. With this particular one (Gyroscope) he stated that hes gotten it almost exactly down to how he remembers it from one of his dreams which he has never managed to achieve before/again. Makes it even more spooky imo
Agree 100%! Those snuff films were horrifying but every time I saw the kids/Baghuul's lore was more explained that sense of terror dissipated completely. Great analysis!
I have a huge high tolerance for horror. Sinister is the scariest I've seen. The sound design is gut wrenching.. The little tapes he watches are fuel for nightmares. The music in the background terrifies me. Near perfect horror.
I think I only ever watched each of the sinister movies once each, but recall really enjoying them - especially the endings of each. Something that took the edge off them for me was that Baghool looks so much like one of the guitarists from slipknot (Mick Thomson), google his mask :P
The best part of the movie was the score/soundtrack, I had to purchase it, just unbelievably creepy. Love your deep dive Emma! I thought the abusive dad from Sinister 2 was honestly the scariest thing from either film!
I think this is one of the best horror movies I have seen. Using the tapes to provide the majority of the scares was a clever touch. It was different enough to keep my attention. Again, thank you Emma for your dedication to the genre. You are amazing 👏 c
I think I would have prefered a version of Sinister without the supernatural component. Like there's just a serial killer who makes those videos and then scares the family until they leave, kills them, abducts their kid, and repeats. I thought this was the direction it was going for a bit so I was disappointed when it was just some ghost.
I may have to rewatch because I don’t quite remember the ending, but I do remember how dark & dreary this film felt. Like from about halfway through you kinda got the sense that the family definitely might not have a happy ending. I don’t mind films that don’t end happily ever after, but I will agree that there is a “scare” factor missing. The film certainly had its moments but I think it was more dark than scary overall. Still enjoyed it for what it is tho, solid 7.5/10
I thought it would have been better to keep Bogul in the shadows and just see a slight reveal towards the end of the movie. I really didn't mind the creepy kids but you're right, they did feel more of cliché and scary. As far as the ending, I felt that this was the fate that Oswald deserve for digging too much into the shadows when he should have stay away.
I actually liked Oswalt as a character. he is a person on a hole trying to fight to recover the fame & glory he lost. he is fighting for a dead dream. I liked his character because, he represents the danger we can cause to ourselves by being obsessed with fulfilling our dreams. having dreams is good, but when you can't accomplish those dreams, refusing to give up on them can turn you into someone like Oswalt.
I remember back in the day when I saw sinister in theatre it scared the shit out of me. I watched it again about a year ago and it didn’t scare me. Maybe because I expected to be as scared as I was the first time I say it when I was younger (and also blazed out my mind)
Normally I would agree less is more but I still find this film so scary. I kept having to look away when clips of Bagul appeared in the video! The soundtrack is amazing.
When I watched this movie alone , I was like 16 and I was horrified. I had trouble sleeping at night with the covers on my head ... I shouldn't seen it alone at night
Funny story, this is one of the first films I remember seeing Ethan Hawke act in, and it was so embarrassing when I began referring to him as "the dad from Sinister" when I discovered his entire acting catalog before this movie
I liked seeing Bagul because he scared the fuck out of me. Seeing him actually be present more and more made him feel more ominous. I think what really disturbed me was the found footage, which I found to be a little too disturbing to me. Like. I dunno how to describe it, but those clips felt a little too.....*real*.
Totally agree with this. I love love parts of this. The home movies and the fact that it’s the kids is so disturbing and creepy but the “dead” makeup, the shhh’s, and boogie man are so corny it totally kills it for me. Just sucks that it had potential and it ruined it with cheap tricks like that.
I completely respect your opinion, and also knowledge of film. I think it might have to do with me not being as in the know, when it comes to films, like I understand why some break down a film as a whole, and working in film/TV (mostly make up or wardrobe, or as a PA) I should, at the time probably should have more knowledge of each breakdown of a film, but with all my jargan my question is, in the end, were you entertained watching the film? I'm curious if you ever go in just to be entertained, or do these little things that you think about after the film ruin the film for you? I agree about the shushing and the constant viewing of Bagul but it didn't ruin the film for me, and I still go back and watch for entertainment. Sorry this was so long, post surgery has given me cabin fever.
Hope you recover soon! Yes I always go in to be entertained, but videos are about discussion otherwise there’s really nothing to say. It’s all in good fun, just wanting to pull apart the aspects we love in horror films, I don’t take it too seriously at all - just love sharing with you all!
@@spookyastronauts Thank you! You're right, I was just curious, I guess I just see (or feel I have been) seeing a lot of horror fans mentioning things like this (this is why you stay away from Facebook) and are just so angry, and clearly, you are not angry haha, I was just curious, but it is a good video, and the content as always, spot on. Hope I didn't offend. Thank you, Emma.
When I first saw Sinister, I didn't know what to expect. Bugul and the home movies creeped me out. BUT what really got me was the music that played during the home movies. I do agree with you that Ethan Hawk's character was 100% unlikable (excellent acting thoo) and they showed Bugul way to much. You are right....less is more. I have to admit that Sinister despite it's flaws is in my top 3 horror movies of all time. What can I say " the heart wants what it wants". In my case my heart loves being creeped out by Bugul and the movie itself.
I have watched so many horror movies in my life. I do not get scared or surprised by anything anymore. Sinister scared the shit out of me. One of the best horror movies I have ever seen!
I agree with you regarding scares and surprises not being very effective. I didn't find the movie scary but disturbing, a "pleasant" relief from most movies. The Boogie figure lessened the fun of the movie. Ethan Hawk's character was great and has moved him up as one of my favorite actors.
One of Top 5 scary movies ever. Every time I watch it it terrifies me. The night filming, the score, those tapes....brrrrrr. I'm one of those fans who has a hard time criticizing this film, but if I were forced to admit one thing, I agree that maybe Bagul was scarier as an image on film. He does lose something when he becomes an actor in a suit. I didn't mind the shush stuff nor how unlikeable Hawke's character was cause he was playing someone completely out of control. We all know that addicts care for nothing but themselves. Sinister is one of those films that I respect more than it being a film I can watch over and over. It just messes with my head too much.
Admittedly, this movie made me feel uncomfortable, frightened and disturbed… until we started seeing the ghoul over and over again. To me, it became one of those farcical horrors of a similar vein to the Elm Street series, Halloween and Friday the 13th. Very 😢
I like Sinister, but I think it actually could have been a far greater film with a re edit Sure, the plot could have been re written to potentially make Bughuul more mysterious, But with the movie we have; If they pulled back on the jumpscares (that one at the very end is a dappener on the film particularly) , got rid of that bit of the kids running round the house at night, and also tweaked the ending in parts (make the youngest kid silent throughout, for instance) Also not sure what that plot point of the son having the night terrors really adds to the film? SO that could have been deleted too. If it was the daughter , maybe it could have been a bit more interesting, seeing as she's the one who kills the family. As is, it just seems like extra scares for the sake of it I think this could have been a really great film, and I'd classify it easier as one of the best horrors of the 2010's I really like the plot, and the tape scenes are genuinely great
It must have been fun to take notes while watching a movie about a guy who takes notes while watching a movie :) I rewatched Sinister for this and had a blast with the whole package. Thank you! Shhh! The kids were definitely the weakest part of the film - even worse than the screen hungry Mr. Boogie Woogie. Awkwardly, though, I totally relate to Oswalt. I don’t shadow his behavior but I, like, totally get him. Oof.
Sinister is one of my favourite horror films. It stuck with me in a way few films have. I have a few complaints about it but overall, it's excellent. It has jumpscares, which I typically abhor, but they felt like like the film had earned them. They were such a relief to the tension in most cases.
I do agree with your points for sure. But those super 8 films and the whole idea is still one of my favorite horror "things" in a long time. But I guess they could have constructed the whole thing better to make it one of the scariest horror movies of all time.
Everything you said from 5:45 onwards is exactly how I felt about It Chapter One! Also saw what you did there with the "Put him back on the map" section 😂
Sinister is truly one of the best horror movies to come out in recent memory. I can see you mean by less is more less creepy kids and honestly thought they showed Boogie too much but when you Got so many other things that just hit Home its sucks to complain. Like that soundtrack is amazing, Ethan Hawk was good, and those amazing tape scenes 😍💜. Honestly I agree that less would have benefitted it maybe left people talking about it in a better light but as it stands rn I love What we have here. Love When a horror movie has soo much going for it. Love the video tho that less is more approach i think could've maybe left the film feeling more sinister as the title would suggest and IMO that would've elevated this film.
I'd maybe go the other way. I hate the other big horrors of that style/era ("Insidious", "Annabelle" etc.) "Sinister" had the problems of those (agree with all the things you listed) , but also something else that made me quite like it. I'd see it as a step in the right direction or best of a bad lot.
I read somewhere that Scott Derrickson did not want to have a lot of jumpscares but the producers pushed for them, so there's that. But still, I got nightmares thanks to Sinister, lmao, but it's really good.
Actually Ive just thought about who Beghoul reminds me of.The lead singer of metal band Cradle of Filth(my brother loves metal).You mentioning the metal aspect made me google it.I think it would have been better to not show Beghoul so much and definitely not have the "shush" segements or the childrens drawings.It wasnt needed as-like you said-the tapes were definitely enough.Great discussion Emma.
First half exceptionally eerie. Second half dissappointing. Children with black paint around the eyes.. like reeeally? Also the one jumpscare kind of breaks the fourth wall which didn't fit.
I actually loved Sinister, the first film especially has a lot of great stuff, the second one could've been better but I know not every movie is perfect. I just hate that every sequel tries to be like the first and then it falls on it's face
agree with you in many points, esp. that we see boogieman too much like human, its still the most frightening movie (along with Hereditary) to me! even watching your video at some points remind me of the fear :D i love it
I thought the one scene that could have been cut was the one explaining who the demon was and its origins. I think it would have been even scarier and weirder if the identity of the demon was left unexplained.
"Sinister is the 2012 horror film that follows protagonist true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt, played by Ethan Hawke, and of course..... his cardigan." I legit heard this in my head.
Sinister would be a solid 7 but instead of the boogeyman being a rarely seen shadowy omnipresent force, they decide to make it a CG Marvel villain. He ends up looking like a fill-in guitarist for Mushroomhead. Also, the ending should have been trimmed down.. like 80% of it at least. Sound design and Soundtrack was fantastic [Boards of Canada and Sun O))) we’re fine choices), plus the home movies we’re quite unsettling. Easily could have been among the films that really leave a mark. Oh well. 😌
I did find Sinister disturbing, but I totally agree that less is more. If they had been a little less heavy handed and left things a little more ambiguous, it could have been so much better.
I was actually thinking about this movie the other day! Lol.. I made up my mind to turn in my 2 week notice at my last job that I had been at for awhile after years of watching the place go down hill. The day after I turned my notice in people began approaching me asking if the rumors were true, out of their own concern about the state of that company, I was like “This reminds me of that scene in Sinister where the husband is literally burning the tapes in the back yard and his wife runs up saying, Okay your REALLY starting to freak me out now!”
Love this film, but like you and a lot of people there were flaws in it that made it not quite stick the landing. Especially the ghost kids and I think they should’ve shown Mr Boogie less. The highlights of the film are obviously the videotapes and score. That first shot of the film is so effective especially the first time you watch the movie. Sinister will always hold a special place in my heart cuz seeing it in a movie theater was one of the first dates my wife and I had.
This movie scared me in every different way you can get scared. It made me anxious and tense while giving me breaks to breathe and collect myself, The found footage was very disturbing. The jump scares were perfect. Not a perfect film but so freaking good. Opening scene let’s us know we know we were in for a wild film.
What I'd change about the movie is to had never shown us the antagonist. It was established from early in the movie that we're against a supernatural entity. I think it'd add to the mystery if we didn't know the threat is supernatural or not, at least not until the second part of the movie. Also, I'd go as far to say that I'd prefer if we didn't even see the antagonist's face when he picks up the girl at the end. The whole concept with the kids was cool, but the scenes where they move in slow motion behind Alison's back was unnecessary and kind of silly. Additionally, I believe the ending scene would be better if it just ended with showing us the films without the jumpscare.
Wow thanks Emma this video was great and covering one of my favorite movies on top of it! I apologize if this is long but want to cover most of my your questions lo!. I absolutely loved this film and yes it's so disturbing! Some of the music in this movie was truly nightmare fuel, particularly the music in the car scene oh my lord! That music! A lot the scenes in this film stayed with me after viewing, not necessarily keeping me up at night but just left me with a yuck feeling. As for the shhh aspect I always just assumed it was like an innocent thing because kids just do things like that? And honestly with all the dark heavy stuff going on in the film as sad at those kids fates were it was kind of a relief to see them on screen? It seemed like a nod like we know they're the were but Allison does not.. I also agree with your assessment of Allison, I also thought he was pretty selfish and I understand he was a hard worker and was saving his falling career but seriously.. lol it made me not care as much when he died tbh. As for less is more and yes I do kind of agree with you but I feel the reason why they showed more and more, my take on it was the lesson if you go looking for something you'll find it and Allison just kept pushing and pushing for more so we got more, if that makes sense? Anyway I really love this film it's in my top 30 for sure :)
This is definitely a top 10 horror movie for me. I've become so desensitized to these things, I don't even believe in the term "going too far". If a studio gave it the green light, it's all fair game. I include movies like Cannibal Holocaust with the animal abuse and The Blair Witch Project where they faked missing persons reports and isolated the actors from friends and family. Idk if that makes me a sociopath but it is what it is 🤷🏾♂️
I didn’t think it was that scary (not compared to the scariest movie in the past 20 years in my opinion-The Exorcism of Emily Rose). It’s quite good and rewatchable.
We should set the record straight and understand that Ellison did _not_ cause a killer to go free with his first book. That book is framed as uncovering police corruption that led to an unjust conviction. Police officers *always* deny wrongdoing and insist that they caught the right person irrespective of what courts or independent investigations find and they take that position on behalf of other departments, which is what the sheriff does in this movie. Ellison can’t object to that opinion because disagreement is futile and harmful to seeking later cooperation. Moreover, we never see any media or indication from an objective third person that would affirm the sheriff’s claim. In fact, the very opposite is implied by his interactions with those around him. Take this point away and Ellison’s investigative pursuit is far less problematic.
Honestly, I think we’re supposed to feel bad for his family, not him. He causes the disaster that befalls him due to selfishness and greed. But that’s how I interpreted the movie. It’s still one of my top horrors. Was definitely one of the best that came out in that time
I couldn't agree more
Totally agree! His poor wife! the writer confirmed in an interview that they intended to make him a fear of theirs. But it’s sad you never get to see the ending for his family!
@@spookyastronauts yes you did, they got the chopping block lol
It's not really greed for him, he use to be legit journalist and helped police solve some crimes, then he became famous and did it for money. So he thought this case could both inspire him to write another book and make his return, while in process he would do some good and help solve the case.
I think what made Sinister so effective for me was the sound design. It created an atmosphere of pure dread. I'm gonna go rewatch it and return to this video later!
Nice. Yeah I just rewatched and the sound design and score are out of this world.
@@markaitkenguitar the music during the car film is one of the creepiest things I've ever heard
the sound design in a horror movie can make all the difference between a good and a fantastic movie.
Honestly, sinister is one of my favorite horror films of the 2010s
You seriously nailed exactly how I feel about this movie! There are so many aspects I love, yet so many weird choices I don’t love. I wish there was an edit of this movie where every 🤫 moment is cut.
On the topic of the drawings - I teach art classes for children, and nothing takes me out of a movie more than drawings that are meant to be done by a child that are CLEARLY done by an adult. It completely ruins my suspension of disbelief. So it makes me extra mad when the drawings don’t even serve the plot in a good way! Such an unfortunate horror trope
Wow that’s a really interesting point about the drawing Emma, also I noticed all of the drawings are exactly the same style! Looks like they were obviously done by the same person
I am so desensitized to horror, but when I saw this in theaters I was *VERY* disturbed…but that’s what made me like it so much!🤣🖤
@@Craig121000 Really? He literally said he was disturbed. Just because someone likes a horror movie doesn't mean it reflects to them. It's like saying people who enjoy horror movies are psychopaths.
@@Craig121000 do you realise you're watching a horror channel?
… I like Hostel too.
@@Craig121000 “sociopaths” aren’t even a rigidly defined thing, it’s more a collection of traits that *can* be defined as “sociopath” by a doctor if they decide to or find it helpful.
@@Craig121000 well that isn’t remotely relevant to what I just said but nice.
I'm in my 40s and modern horror movies don't usually affect me. This one did! But yeah, the ending with the ghostly kids ruined it.
As a parent, watching SINISTER on the big screen filled me with dread. The lawnmower and pool scenes really did a number on me. It was more disturbing than scary. That’s a remarkable achievement for a wide mainstream film.
Oh my God. That is EXACTLY how my partner and I felt after watching it cos we have kids too. Sooooo disturbing more than anything else.
@@Bonafidevixen10032 definitely
Agreed. More disturbing, unsettling, with a permeating-sense-of-dread type feeling.
Horror is the one genre where less is always more.
Saw at the cinema, the film scared me
So when I got home I had to unwind.
Well my eight year old snuck up on me and I screamed (this was late at night) she was thirsty, I got her something to drink and ended up staying up all night with the lights on.
7:20 - Oh, God YES! Those "plasma kids" ruined the second half of Sinister for me. They took me out of the movie compeltely, and that's even more unforgiveable considering how creepy the first half is.
I am willing to overlook the last couple of minutes of the movie due to the awesome horror it delivered throughout (IMO). It was definitely spooky, and what more can I ask for?
I have been a horror fan for what seems like my whole life but it wasn’t until I made my mum watch Sinister she started watching horror with me. Without this movie I wouldn’t have a mum who is now addicted to the genre and someone to always see new horror movies with. That’s how good the first one was!
I never get tired of sharing my experience seeing SINISTER in theaters (I was in high school)… my date tells me last minute she hates scary movies so she bailed. I still wanted to see it so I went alone. There were a few scattered couples and groups in the theater. About an hour and 15 minutes into it, I’m shaking uncontrollably, my chest was tight, and I was hyperventilating. I had to get up and leave. As soon as I got outside I sat down thinking I was gonna pass out. I took a breather, got myself together, and drove home very on edge. The following weekend I went to see it again, this time with a group of friends… it was still terrifying but I was able to sit thru it. No movie has scared me as much as SINISTER did, and it’s definitely one of my favorites. Easily the best horror film of 2012
It did exactly what it was supposed to do. I’d argue Sinister was the best horror movie of the 2010s.
There haven’t been many horror movies nowadays that truly push the envelope and everybody nailed it.
Scott had a lot of studio pressure. They forced the final face jump scare upon him. And I'm sure at that point he didn't have the clout to get away with murder.
Wow that makes sense. Cool info!
0:26 my favorite death in the series
It is a partially perfect film, getting a bit trope-heavy / caving into what marketing thinks horror fans want at the end. I think a partially perfect film is still much better than most offerings we’ve seen during that era.
Honestly sinister when it first came out it was one of the greats, it wasn't campy paranormal activity trying to be scary with a low budget,
It had a unique bad guy with a unique power set and what he was after,
It felt like the first insidious film, and the first conjuring film, having an actual horror guy who wins, the second one..... I didn't know it came out till 2019, lol, it wasnt as good as the first, having the big bad trying to try over one twin and then the other being jealous and then trying to prove himself, was a good mix on the first one, but didn't hit as hard as I didn't care about any of the characters
This is just my opinion, but I thought the second sinister was probably one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. No exaggeration haha
@@guthrielindquist1 it had elements of what's the only thing we can do that the first film did, and that was watch the kids get possessed, and the twist of the other twin being taking over, was a good twist,
But I didn't care about the the sub plot with their dad or the mum, or the deputy from the last film, but it was scary as the first one was, it was classes jump scar for jump scar sake
I watched it for the first time recently and you put into words what I couldn't. I liked the movie, but I felt like the disconnect between the raw, gritty snuff footage and the highly stylized actions of the kids took some of the fear out of it.
Well put!
I've only seen Sinister once, but from what I can remember you're right about it going "too far". And the ending felt rushed too. Great video, as always!
I'm glad you've covered this film. I come back to this film time and again and I love some aspects of it, but it's far from perfect. I get this nightmarish feel from the found footage parts, but it's never completely satisfied me as a film. You've done a fantastic job of explaining why this is, as I could never put my finger on why it fell short. Thank you for the awesome video!
I liked this film a lot, I'm pleased to know so many other people found it disturbing and effective.
Sinister was awesome! In my opinion, Sinister and Hereditary are the only 2 actual scary movies I've seen in about 20 years. Truly scary movies are haunting, and these two linger on in your thoughts even after the movie has ended.
Ahhhh.. the music!! When the car is on fire, it's so discordant and creepy.
Yes this.. gave my friend and I the creeps big time! Never mind the lawnmower scene 😂
I totally agree with the 'less is more' part. All the footage and the 'manifestations' in general could've been toned down.
I rewatched it for the second time last week and if they stuck with a more subtle and dark them like Hereditary, this film would be classic. The reveal of Bughoul, the jump scares and the killer kids really took me out of it during my rewatch.
Yeah that lawnmower scene had to most effective jumpscare I've ever seen
I love that titles of the home movies have such chipper titles. There are some great scares in this film and this was a great video Emma
Thanks Chris!
Everything you’ve said about sinister is EXACTLY how I’ve always felt about it. The children are not done well at all. They do cheapen the pure brutality and horror that should be able to stand above every other element. I also do not understand why this supposedly ancient demon wears a suit and tie. I think sinister deserves a rewrite because there are kernels of genius within the final mess that deserve to be in a great film
Yeah you’re right!!! He wears human clothes???
@@spookyastronauts I strongly feel that Bagul should have been a satanic cult leader/serial killer from the 70s. He had the look, he groomed children to follow him, the deaths have dated back to the mid century. In that way he does sort of remind me of a figure like Charles Manson. I think that would have strengthened the ghost children as well as origin story.
There are few films I have seen that are truly terrifying, yet I keep wanting to revisit. For me, Sinister is that perfect blend of pure horror wrapped in an enigmatic mystery. The more the main character learns, the more horrific the story becomes. As with the film "Angel Heart", the lesson is "how terrible is wisdom when it brings no profit to the wise".
As for the villain Bughuul, I did like the lore behind him. If he was revealed to be some kind of ghost or demon, then that is a threat which can be dealt with. A ghost can "pass on" to its eternal rest and a demon can be dealt with through religious means. However, a pagan god villain is much rarer in movies. The lore has "less rules" and can represent anything from ancient mythology before the dawn of man to the abstract of "the darkness of man's soul" brought into existence. Evil doesn't need an explanation, it just exists. Ethan Hawke's character just fell into its trap by being obsessed with the mystery and not thinking about his family.
In total agreement. I really am enjoying movies that tap into ancient paganism or folk lore. It seems scarier to me...primitive. Also the music in this movie creeps me out more than anything. It brings dread and with the lights off in a old Victorian house that has her share of visitors...I get spooked for sure!
Can’t believe this movie is 10 years old already 🥲
I am obsessed with this movie. Watched it dozens of times and it still makes me keep the lights on all night and worry that an entity is out there about to murder me. Such an effective, terrifying, horrific film. But watching a family hang still haunts my dreams. Personally think THAT part was far far faaar too much. GOD!
1) Emma you're glowing, you're just beautiful
I'm only about 3/4 of the way through, but this sounds SO much like a book I'm reading atm, Home Before Dark. The author says she was inspired by the Amityville Horror, but it is so similar to the Sinister storyline; writer dad, dad uproots family, does things that endanger his family for his story. I haven't watched Sinister in years, so I'm curious to watch it again and see how similar it is to this book.
Great vid, Emma!
Cool fact about the outro track of Sinister from Christopher Young; Apparently he sometimes dreams of songs and tries to replicate them when awake. With this particular one (Gyroscope) he stated that hes gotten it almost exactly down to how he remembers it from one of his dreams which he has never managed to achieve before/again. Makes it even more spooky imo
Agree 100%! Those snuff films were horrifying but every time I saw the kids/Baghuul's lore was more explained that sense of terror dissipated completely. Great analysis!
I have a huge high tolerance for horror.
Sinister is the scariest I've seen. The sound design is gut wrenching.. The little tapes he watches are fuel for nightmares.
The music in the background terrifies me.
Near perfect horror.
I think I only ever watched each of the sinister movies once each, but recall really enjoying them - especially the endings of each. Something that took the edge off them for me was that Baghool looks so much like one of the guitarists from slipknot (Mick Thomson), google his mask :P
mick thomson’s mask scares the hell out of me lol
This movie is still the scariest movie I've ever seen.
The best part of the movie was the score/soundtrack, I had to purchase it, just unbelievably creepy. Love your deep dive Emma! I thought the abusive dad from Sinister 2 was honestly the scariest thing from either film!
I think this is one of the best horror movies I have seen. Using the tapes to provide the majority of the scares was a clever touch. It was different enough to keep my attention. Again, thank you Emma for your dedication to the genre. You are amazing 👏 c
This perfectly articulated the issues I’ve had with this movie. It had the potential to be great, but it just did too much.
I think I would have prefered a version of Sinister without the supernatural component. Like there's just a serial killer who makes those videos and then scares the family until they leave, kills them, abducts their kid, and repeats. I thought this was the direction it was going for a bit so I was disappointed when it was just some ghost.
I may have to rewatch because I don’t quite remember the ending, but I do remember how dark & dreary this film felt. Like from about halfway through you kinda got the sense that the family definitely might not have a happy ending. I don’t mind films that don’t end happily ever after, but I will agree that there is a “scare” factor missing. The film certainly had its moments but I think it was more dark than scary overall. Still enjoyed it for what it is tho, solid 7.5/10
I thought it would have been better to keep Bogul in the shadows and just see a slight reveal towards the end of the movie. I really didn't mind the creepy kids but you're right, they did feel more of cliché and scary. As far as the ending, I felt that this was the fate that Oswald deserve for digging too much into the shadows when he should have stay away.
I actually liked Oswalt as a character. he is a person on a hole trying to fight to recover the fame & glory he lost. he is fighting for a dead dream. I liked his character because, he represents the danger we can cause to ourselves by being obsessed with fulfilling our dreams. having dreams is good, but when you can't accomplish those dreams, refusing to give up on them can turn you into someone like Oswalt.
I remember back in the day when I saw sinister in theatre it scared the shit out of me. I watched it again about a year ago and it didn’t scare me. Maybe because I expected to be as scared as I was the first time I say it when I was younger (and also blazed out my mind)
Normally I would agree less is more but I still find this film so scary. I kept having to look away when clips of Bagul appeared in the video! The soundtrack is amazing.
ethan hawke was amazing in this film. this film was really good, only bad bits were the kids shushing.
When I watched this movie alone , I was like 16 and I was horrified. I had trouble sleeping at night with the covers on my head ... I shouldn't seen it alone at night
Funny story, this is one of the first films I remember seeing Ethan Hawke act in, and it was so embarrassing when I began referring to him as "the dad from Sinister" when I discovered his entire acting catalog before this movie
Haha, oh no! Well you didn't know better, if anyone picked on you that person is a pretentious twat.
This one, conjuring, oculus and insidious are my favorite modern scary movies
Bagul looks like Mick Thompson from Slipknot
I liked seeing Bagul because he scared the fuck out of me. Seeing him actually be present more and more made him feel more ominous. I think what really disturbed me was the found footage, which I found to be a little too disturbing to me. Like. I dunno how to describe it, but those clips felt a little too.....*real*.
First sinister was spooky as hell. Couldn't get into the sequels! 🌵🕶🌵
Totally agree with this. I love love parts of this. The home movies and the fact that it’s the kids is so disturbing and creepy but the “dead” makeup, the shhh’s, and boogie man are so corny it totally kills it for me. Just sucks that it had potential and it ruined it with cheap tricks like that.
I completely respect your opinion, and also knowledge of film. I think it might have to do with me not being as in the know, when it comes to films, like I understand why some break down a film as a whole, and working in film/TV (mostly make up or wardrobe, or as a PA) I should, at the time probably should have more knowledge of each breakdown of a film, but with all my jargan my question is, in the end, were you entertained watching the film? I'm curious if you ever go in just to be entertained, or do these little things that you think about after the film ruin the film for you? I agree about the shushing and the constant viewing of Bagul but it didn't ruin the film for me, and I still go back and watch for entertainment. Sorry this was so long, post surgery has given me cabin fever.
Hope you recover soon! Yes I always go in to be entertained, but videos are about discussion otherwise there’s really nothing to say. It’s all in good fun, just wanting to pull apart the aspects we love in horror films, I don’t take it too seriously at all - just love sharing with you all!
@@spookyastronauts Thank you! You're right, I was just curious, I guess I just see (or feel I have been) seeing a lot of horror fans mentioning things like this (this is why you stay away from Facebook) and are just so angry, and clearly, you are not angry haha, I was just curious, but it is a good video, and the content as always, spot on. Hope I didn't offend. Thank you, Emma.
When I first saw Sinister, I didn't know what to expect. Bugul and the home movies creeped me out. BUT what really got me was the music that played during the home movies. I do agree with you that Ethan Hawk's character was 100% unlikable (excellent acting thoo) and they showed Bugul way to much. You are right....less is more. I have to admit that Sinister despite it's flaws is in my top 3 horror movies of all time. What can I say " the heart wants what it wants". In my case my heart loves being creeped out by Bugul and the movie itself.
I have watched so many horror movies in my life. I do not get scared or surprised by anything anymore. Sinister scared the shit out of me. One of the best horror movies I have ever seen!
I agree with you regarding scares and surprises not being very effective. I didn't find the movie scary but disturbing, a "pleasant" relief from most movies. The Boogie figure lessened the fun of the movie. Ethan Hawk's character was great and has moved him up as one of my favorite actors.
Tim didnt fall flat, the glass FELL on him and he BECAME flat.
One of Top 5 scary movies ever. Every time I watch it it terrifies me. The night filming, the score, those tapes....brrrrrr. I'm one of those fans who has a hard time criticizing this film, but if I were forced to admit one thing, I agree that maybe Bagul was scarier as an image on film. He does lose something when he becomes an actor in a suit. I didn't mind the shush stuff nor how unlikeable Hawke's character was cause he was playing someone completely out of control. We all know that addicts care for nothing but themselves. Sinister is one of those films that I respect more than it being a film I can watch over and over. It just messes with my head too much.
Admittedly, this movie made me feel uncomfortable, frightened and disturbed… until we started seeing the ghoul over and over again. To me, it became one of those farcical horrors of a similar vein to the Elm Street series, Halloween and Friday the 13th. Very 😢
I like Sinister, but I think it actually could have been a far greater film with a re edit
Sure, the plot could have been re written to potentially make Bughuul more mysterious,
But with the movie we have;
If they pulled back on the jumpscares (that one at the very end is a dappener on the film particularly) , got rid of that bit of the kids running round the house at night, and also tweaked the ending in parts (make the youngest kid silent throughout, for instance)
Also not sure what that plot point of the son having the night terrors really adds to the film? SO that could have been deleted too.
If it was the daughter , maybe it could have been a bit more interesting, seeing as she's the one who kills the family. As is, it just seems like extra scares for the sake of it
I think this could have been a really great film, and I'd classify it easier as one of the best horrors of the 2010's
I really like the plot, and the tape scenes are genuinely great
It must have been fun to take notes while watching a movie about a guy who takes notes while watching a movie :)
I rewatched Sinister for this and had a blast with the whole package. Thank you!
Shhh! The kids were definitely the weakest part of the film - even worse than the screen hungry Mr. Boogie Woogie.
Awkwardly, though, I totally relate to Oswalt. I don’t shadow his behavior but I, like, totally get him. Oof.
the snuff films and sound design are what got under my skin
Sinister is one of my favourite horror films. It stuck with me in a way few films have. I have a few complaints about it but overall, it's excellent.
It has jumpscares, which I typically abhor, but they felt like like the film had earned them. They were such a relief to the tension in most cases.
I do agree with your points for sure. But those super 8 films and the whole idea is still one of my favorite horror "things" in a long time. But I guess they could have constructed the whole thing better to make it one of the scariest horror movies of all time.
Love Sinister, The video tape scenes are great and very effective. Makes me wqnt to rewatch it soon, great video Emma 😊
Everything you said from 5:45 onwards is exactly how I felt about It Chapter One! Also saw what you did there with the "Put him back on the map" section 😂
I loved Sinister. It really disturbed me. Lawn Work really got me.
Sinister is truly one of the best horror movies to come out in recent memory. I can see you mean by less is more less creepy kids and honestly thought they showed Boogie too much but when you Got so many other things that just hit Home its sucks to complain. Like that soundtrack is amazing, Ethan Hawk was good, and those amazing tape scenes 😍💜. Honestly I agree that less would have benefitted it maybe left people talking about it in a better light but as it stands rn I love What we have here. Love When a horror movie has soo much going for it. Love the video tho that less is more approach i think could've maybe left the film feeling more sinister as the title would suggest and IMO that would've elevated this film.
So glad you did a video about sinister. It’s one of my favs!
I'd maybe go the other way. I hate the other big horrors of that style/era ("Insidious", "Annabelle" etc.)
"Sinister" had the problems of those (agree with all the things you listed) , but also something else that made me quite like it. I'd see it as a step in the right direction or best of a bad lot.
When I saw this film, I absolutely LOVED it! A VERY underrated horror classic
Sinister was a great flick, but I found 8MM with Joaquin Phoenix and Nic Cage to be much more disturbing.
I read somewhere that Scott Derrickson did not want to have a lot of jumpscares but the producers pushed for them, so there's that. But still, I got nightmares thanks to Sinister, lmao, but it's really good.
Her face and voice are just soothing !
Actually Ive just thought about who Beghoul reminds me of.The lead singer of metal band Cradle of Filth(my brother loves metal).You mentioning the metal aspect made me google it.I think it would have been better to not show Beghoul so much and definitely not have the "shush" segements or the childrens drawings.It wasnt needed as-like you said-the tapes were definitely enough.Great discussion Emma.
First half exceptionally eerie. Second half dissappointing. Children with black paint around the eyes.. like reeeally? Also the one jumpscare kind of breaks the fourth wall which didn't fit.
I actually loved Sinister, the first film especially has a lot of great stuff, the second one could've been better but I know not every movie is perfect. I just hate that every sequel tries to be like the first and then it falls on it's face
It's worth pointing out that a lot of the music in this movie wasn't the original score, a lot of it was replaced by experimental music.
agree with you in many points, esp. that we see boogieman too much like human, its still the most frightening movie (along with Hereditary) to me! even watching your video at some points remind me of the fear :D i love it
I thought the one scene that could have been cut was the one explaining who the demon was and its origins. I think it would have been even scarier and weirder if the identity of the demon was left unexplained.
"Sinister is the 2012 horror film that follows protagonist true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt, played by Ethan Hawke, and of course..... his cardigan." I legit heard this in my head.
😂😂😂
Sinister would be a solid 7 but instead of the boogeyman being a rarely seen shadowy omnipresent force, they decide to make it a CG Marvel villain. He ends up looking like a fill-in guitarist for Mushroomhead. Also, the ending should have been trimmed down.. like 80% of it at least. Sound design and Soundtrack was fantastic [Boards of Canada and Sun O))) we’re fine choices), plus the home movies we’re quite unsettling. Easily could have been among the films that really leave a mark. Oh well. 😌
I did find Sinister disturbing, but I totally agree that less is more. If they had been a little less heavy handed and left things a little more ambiguous, it could have been so much better.
I was actually thinking about this movie the other day! Lol.. I made up my mind to turn in my 2 week notice at my last job that I had been at for awhile after years of watching the place go down hill.
The day after I turned my notice in people began approaching me asking if the rumors were true, out of their own concern about the state of that company, I was like “This reminds me of that scene in Sinister where the husband is literally burning the tapes in the back yard and his wife runs up saying, Okay your REALLY starting to freak me out now!”
Love this film, but like you and a lot of people there were flaws in it that made it not quite stick the landing. Especially the ghost kids and I think they should’ve shown Mr Boogie less. The highlights of the film are obviously the videotapes and score. That first shot of the film is so effective especially the first time you watch the movie. Sinister will always hold a special place in my heart cuz seeing it in a movie theater was one of the first dates my wife and I had.
My prayers worked! ^^
The kills are the most I have ever been scared in a movie.
This movie scared me in every different way you can get scared. It made me anxious and tense while giving me breaks to breathe and collect myself, The found footage was very disturbing. The jump scares were perfect. Not a perfect film but so freaking good. Opening scene let’s us know we know we were in for a wild film.
both of these are guilty pleasures for me
More fantastic content! I loved this movie on first viewing...going to have to watch again with a different view!!
I remember watching this movie at the cinemas and it scared me a LOT. I never expected the first time the bagul was going to move in the photo.
Oh and the music was top notch
What I'd change about the movie is to had never shown us the antagonist. It was established from early in the movie that we're against a supernatural entity. I think it'd add to the mystery if we didn't know the threat is supernatural or not, at least not until the second part of the movie. Also, I'd go as far to say that I'd prefer if we didn't even see the antagonist's face when he picks up the girl at the end.
The whole concept with the kids was cool, but the scenes where they move in slow motion behind Alison's back was unnecessary and kind of silly.
Additionally, I believe the ending scene would be better if it just ended with showing us the films without the jumpscare.
I like Sinister, but I don't love Sinister. I think you nailed it on why that is.
Wow thanks Emma this video was great and covering one of my favorite movies on top of it! I apologize if this is long but want to cover most of my your questions lo!. I absolutely loved this film and yes it's so disturbing! Some of the music in this movie was truly nightmare fuel, particularly the music in the car scene oh my lord! That music! A lot the scenes in this film stayed with me after viewing, not necessarily keeping me up at night but just left me with a yuck feeling.
As for the shhh aspect I always just assumed it was like an innocent thing because kids just do things like that? And honestly with all the dark heavy stuff going on in the film as sad at those kids fates were it was kind of a relief to see them on screen? It seemed like a nod like we know they're the were but Allison does not.. I also agree with your assessment of Allison, I also thought he was pretty selfish and I understand he was a hard worker and was saving his falling career but seriously.. lol it made me not care as much when he died tbh. As for less is more and yes I do kind of agree with you but I feel the reason why they showed more and more, my take on it was the lesson if you go looking for something you'll find it and Allison just kept pushing and pushing for more so we got more, if that makes sense? Anyway I really love this film it's in my top 30 for sure :)
This is definitely a top 10 horror movie for me. I've become so desensitized to these things, I don't even believe in the term "going too far". If a studio gave it the green light, it's all fair game. I include movies like Cannibal Holocaust with the animal abuse and The Blair Witch Project where they faked missing persons reports and isolated the actors from friends and family. Idk if that makes me a sociopath but it is what it is 🤷🏾♂️
I didn’t think it was that scary (not compared to the scariest movie in the past 20 years in my opinion-The Exorcism of Emily Rose). It’s quite good and rewatchable.
We should set the record straight and understand that Ellison did _not_ cause a killer to go free with his first book. That book is framed as uncovering police corruption that led to an unjust conviction. Police officers *always* deny wrongdoing and insist that they caught the right person irrespective of what courts or independent investigations find and they take that position on behalf of other departments, which is what the sheriff does in this movie. Ellison can’t object to that opinion because disagreement is futile and harmful to seeking later cooperation. Moreover, we never see any media or indication from an objective third person that would affirm the sheriff’s claim. In fact, the very opposite is implied by his interactions with those around him.
Take this point away and Ellison’s investigative pursuit is far less problematic.