Once you see him, nothing can save you.
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump; he hasn't had a best seller in more than 10 years and is becoming increasingly desperate for a hit. So, when he discovers the existence of a snuff film showing the deaths of a family, he vows to solve the mystery. He moves his own family into the victims' home and gets to work. However, when old film footage and other clues hint at the presence of a supernatural force, Ellison learns that living in the house may be fatal.
- Harm to children
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Character
Earnest, bleak, grave and unpretentious.
- earnestironic
- warmbleak
- gravecomic
- unpretentiousprestige
- intimateepic
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“Is this Scott Derrickson's best work?”
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Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- Dr Nostromoon TMDB · Jul 20267/10
73/100 A true crime writer moves into a home where a horrific murder took place and his family encounters a malevolent force. This was an ultra-creepy exercise in, not only a demonic presence, but also in obsession and how far someone is willing to go before considering their family's safety. Everyone in it did a wonderful job and their actions were logical, heartfelt and intelligent. It's absolutely thick with a sense of dread, with a few really choice jump scares that never felt like pandering, and that sound track is incredibly unnerving. Very nicely done! - DrNostromo.com
Read the whole review on TMDB - Gimlyon TMDB · Jul 20206/10
Hits an absurdly high number of horror clichés, but manages to do it in a pretty successful manner. Features many more laugh out moments than you might expect from a horror of this type. Not sure if that's a pro or a con. _Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Oct 2015
Bughuul the Bastard! After moving himself and his family into a new house that was the scene of a horrendous crime, true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) finds a box of 8mm "snuff" films that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose career dates some way back still further... It is becoming the un-reviewable genre, horror that is, there are just too many splinters of horror to choose from and so many people to cater for. There are many who stand up and proudly proclaim that they will watch any horror film and view it on its own terms, yet in this new millennium age that doesn't appear to be the case. I know I'm at fault, I hate torture porn and excessive grue type films, they just bore me, so can I review Hostel 9, Saw 27 and Wrong Turn 12 fairly? No, I don't think I can. I mean the human body can only be sliced up in so many different ways, right? Right? Vice Versa, can someone who loves Argento, Roth and the like, review fairly a boo-jump ghost story that caters for those who want to wet themselves when something jumps out of a cupboard? I really don't think so, but I digress... Sinister is a wonderfully creepy movie that deals
Read the whole review on TMDB
Cast
- Ethan HawkeEllison Oswalt
- Juliet RylanceTracy Oswalt
- Vincent D'OnofrioProfessor Jonas
- James RansoneDeputy
- Fred ThompsonSheriff
- Clare FoleyAshley Oswalt
- Michael Hall D'AddarioTrevor Oswalt
- Victoria LeighStephanie Stevenson
- Blake MizrahiChristopher Miller
- Cameron OcasioBBQ Son / Killer
Crew
- Scott DerricksonDirector
- C. Robert CargillScreenplay
- Scott DerricksonScreenplay
- Christopher NorrDirector of Photography
- Christopher YoungOriginal Music Composer
- Frédéric ThoravalEditor
- Brian Kavanaugh-JonesProducer
- Jason BlumProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Insidious 201179% alikeBoth grave, earnest, bleak.
Dead Silence 200777% alikeBoth earnest, grave, bleak.
The Cellar 202276% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
The Black Phone 202276% alikeBoth grave, earnest, bleak.
Jungle 201776% alikeBoth earnest, grave, classical in form.
Both bleak, unpretentious, grave.
Blue Ruin 201473% alikeBoth grave, earnest, classical in form.
Dark Skies 201373% alikeBoth grave, earnest, classical in form.
Game · Both grave, bleak, unpretentious.
Game · Both grave, earnest, bleak.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
