[8.00/10] Sinister (2012)

Sinister (2012)

Brief review: Aptly titled "Sinister", this is "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" director Scott Derrickson's latest movie, about a true-crime writer, who comes across some weird clues, while writing his new book. To call "Sinister" a proper horror movie would be fair, because its succeeds on pretty much every single level. The writers has put so much thought into the script, successfully balancing murder mystery, true-crime drama and heavy supernatural elements, with sense of style and sophistication, and even though the plot itself seems familiar at first, the end result is a gripping and intriguing fright-fest, destined to become a horror classic. In terms of atmosphere and scares, "Sinister" certainly lives up to its title, and then some. Delivering everything from jump-of-your-seat boo scares and ghastly images to nail-biting tension and edgy suspense, "Sinister" is one of those horror movies, that quickly gets deep under your skin and stays there long after the credits roll. The film's intentionally gloomy look, ominous setting, and effective music score also add to the eeriness factor, not to mention the creepy-as-hell Mr. Boogie / Bughuul, who will surely come to haunt you in your dreams. Ethan Hawke gives a spot-on comeback performance, brilliantly portraying one of the most memorable male protagonists in recent 'horror' history. The supporting cast does a solid job as well, complementing Hawke's character so perfectly.

Overall summary: Atmospheric, superbly-conceived, and compellingly mysterious, "Sinister" is every bit as creepy as its title suggests, and also one of the best horror movies of 2012, as it manages to deliver genuine scares and tons of suspense, without having any major flaws.