| Photos (See all 39 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 4) |
| Ethan Hawke | ... | Ellison Oswalt | |
| Juliet Rylance | ... | Tracy | |
| Fred Dalton Thompson | ... | Sheriff | |
| James Ransone | ... | Deputy | |
| Michael Hall D'Addario | ... | Trevor | |
| Clare Foley | ... | Ashley | |
| Rob Riley | ... | E.M.T. | |
| Tavis Smiley | ... | Anchor | |
| Janet Zappala | ... | Reporter | |
| Victoria Leigh | ... | Stephanie | |
| Cameron Ocasio | ... | BBQ Boy | |
| Ethan Haberfield | ... | Pool Party Boy | |
| Danielle Kotch | ... | Lawn Girl | |
| Blake Mizrahi | ... | Sleepy Time Boy | |
| Nicholas King | ... | Bughuul / Mr. Boogie (as Nick King) | |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Lorraine Aceves | ... | BBQ Mom (uncredited) | |
| Vincent D'Onofrio | ... | Professor Jonas (uncredited) | |
| Rachel Konstantin | ... | Mrs. Stevenson (uncredited) | |
Directed by | |||
| Scott Derrickson | |||
Writing credits(WGA) | ||
| Scott Derrickson | (written by) & | |
| C. Robert Cargill | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| Jason Blum | .... | producer | |
| Jeanette Brill | .... | associate producer (as Jeanette Volturno-Brill) | |
| Bailey Conway | .... | associate producer | |
| Scott Derrickson | .... | executive producer | |
| Gerard DiNardi | .... | line producer | |
| Jessica L. Hall | .... | associate producer (as Jessica Hall) | |
| Brian Kavanaugh-Jones | .... | producer | |
| Charles Layton | .... | executive producer | |
| Rick Osako | .... | associate producer (as Rick A. Osako) | |
Original Music by | |||
| Christopher Young | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Chris Norr | (director of photography) (as Christopher Norr) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Frédéric Thoraval | |||
Casting by | |||
| Sheila Jaffe | |||
| Ruth Salen | |||
Production Design by | |||
| David Brisbin | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| John El Manahi | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Sarah Dennis | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Abby O'Sullivan | |||
Makeup Department | |||
| Ozzy Alvarez | .... | special effects makeup: for Mr. King | |
| Joe Amella | .... | special effects makeup artist | |
| Adam Bailey | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Sonia Castleberry | .... | hair stylist | |
| Sarah Hindsgaul | .... | hair stylist | |
| Satoko Ichinose | .... | hair department head | |
| Karma Karel | .... | makeup department head: Los Angeles | |
| Rich Krusell | .... | special effects makeup artist (as Rich Krussell) | |
| Laura Lieffring | .... | makeup effects technician | |
| Liliana Meyrick | .... | key hair stylist | |
| Jason Milani | .... | special effects makeup artist | |
| Lauzanne Nel | .... | key makeup artist | |
| Danielle Noe | .... | special effects makeup supervisor | |
| Björn Rehbein | .... | special effects makeup artist (as Bjoern Rehbein) | |
| Terry Robbins | .... | hair department head: Los Angeles | |
| Stayc St. Onge | .... | special effects makeup artist | |
| Arielle Toelke | .... | makeup department head | |
| Dawn Tunnell | .... | additional makeup | |
Production Management | |||
| Kaylene Carlson | .... | unit production manager | |
| Phillip Dawe | .... | post-production executive | |
| James K. Jensen | .... | post-production supervisor | |
| Lior Vardi | .... | production supervisor | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Nicholas R. Bell | .... | second assistant director | |
| Adam Bernard | .... | second second assistant director | |
| Gerard DiNardi | .... | first assistant director: Los Angeles | |
| Erica Fishman | .... | second assistant director | |
| Danny Giles | .... | second assistant director: Los Angeles (as Daniel A. Giles-Valera) | |
| Eddie Griffith | .... | additional second second assistant director | |
| Matthew Tibbenham | .... | second unit director (uncredited) | |
Art Department | |||
| Phil Beck III | .... | leadman | |
| Aaron Becker | .... | main title design & graphic design | |
| Sarah Berney | .... | scenic charge | |
| Eric Bryant | .... | graphic artist | |
| Peter Bundrick | .... | key carpenter | |
| Jacqueline Canto | .... | assistant set decorator (as Jackie Canto) | |
| Carmen Cardenas | .... | assistant art director | |
| Charles J. Coleman | .... | assistant property master | |
| Roddy Cruz | .... | set dresser production assistant | |
| Cortney Cunnane | .... | set decoration intern | |
| Catherine Devaney | .... | assistant to production designer (as Cate Devaney) | |
| Doug Devine | .... | set dresser: Los Angeles | |
| Richard Hebrank | .... | construction coordinator (as Richie Hebrank) | |
| John Kennedy | .... | construction grip | |
| Su Lee | .... | art department production assistant | |
| Su Lee-Cruz | .... | art production assistant | |
| Chris Leuzzi | .... | set dresser | |
| Jackie Lipton | .... | set paintings | |
| Nicolas Luna | .... | props | |
| Mike Marzigliano | .... | on set dresser | |
| David Newhouse | .... | art intern | |
| John Paul | .... | scenic | |
| Justin Price | .... | set dresser: Los Angeles | |
| Ben Ross | .... | carpenter foreman | |
| Cecilia Scarabello | .... | art intern | |
| Benjamin Thomas Scarsbrook | .... | concept artist | |
| Evan Seide | .... | additional on-set dresser | |
| Andrew Settle | .... | leadman: Los Angeles | |
| Darren Sharkey | .... | props | |
| Lee Shevett | .... | key construction grip | |
| Mike Spence | .... | set dresser | |
| Thomas Spence | .... | property master: Los Angeles | |
| Dennis Tillberg | .... | scenic | |
| Omar Vaid | .... | property master | |
| Rocio Valenzuela | .... | art intern | |
| Amy Vuckovich | .... | set decorator: Los Angeles | |
Sound Department | |||
| Marc Aramian | .... | sound designer | |
| Dane A. Davis | .... | sound designer | |
| Dane A. Davis | .... | supervising sound editor | |
| Mark DeSimone | .... | adr mixer: New York | |
| Fritz Francois | .... | additional boom operator | |
| Paul Hackner | .... | co-supervising sound editor | |
| Paul Hackner | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Jack Hutson | .... | sound mixer | |
| Matthew Iadarola | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Thomas W. Jordan | .... | boom operator | |
| Aaron Morgan | .... | additional foley mixer | |
| Beaux Neylon | .... | adr mixer | |
| John Sanacore | .... | foley mixer | |
| Ric Schnupp | .... | adr recordist | |
| Alex Ullrich | .... | foley artist (as Alex Ullirch) | |
| David A. Whittaker | .... | sound effects editor | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Peter Appold | .... | special effects technician | |
| Phil Beck Jr. | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Robert Beck | .... | special effects technician | |
| John DiClementi | .... | special effects technician | |
| John Howell | .... | special effects technician | |
| Ryan Senecal | .... | special effects coordinator: Los Angeles | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| David Altenau | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
| Mike Bozulich | .... | compositor | |
| Antonio Chang | .... | compositor | |
| Adrian Colbert | .... | visual effects editor | |
| Bruce Coy | .... | CG artist | |
| Ryan Felix | .... | visual effects editor | |
| Jason Fotter | .... | compositing supervisor | |
| Ignacio Garcerón | .... | CG artist | |
| Eric Hayden | .... | compositor | |
| Tim Jacobsen | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Benjamin Liu | .... | CG artist | |
| Diane Macke | .... | visual effects coordinator | |
| Matthew Massarella | .... | compositor (as Matt Massarella) | |
| Josh Miyaji | .... | compositor | |
| Kimberly Pepe | .... | compositor | |
| Jason Piccioni | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Aldo Ruggiero | .... | CG artist | |
| Evan Underwood | .... | visual effects artist | |
| Matt von Brock | .... | CG supervisor: FuseFX | |
| Pablo Wang | .... | compositor | |
| Jason Piccioni | .... | visual effects supervisor (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Emily Brobst | .... | stunt double | |
| Heidi Burger | .... | stunt performer | |
| Scott Burik | .... | stunt performer | |
| Chris Colombo | .... | stunt performer | |
| Roy Farfel | .... | stunt rigger | |
| Jim Ford | .... | stunt rigger | |
| Szilvia Gogh | .... | stunts | |
| Greg Harvey | .... | stunt rigger | |
| David Januzzi | .... | stunt rigger | |
| Chris J. King | .... | stunt performer | |
| Michael R. King | .... | stunts | |
| Rob King | .... | stunt coordinator: Los Angeles | |
| Jasi Cotton Lanier | .... | stunt double | |
| Katie Letien | .... | stunt rigger (as Katie Leiten) | |
| Victor Paguia | .... | stunt rigger (as Victoria Paguia) | |
| Devin Sanchez | .... | stunt performer | |
| David Shumbris | .... | stunt rigger | |
| Manny Siverio | .... | stunt coordinator | |
| Mark Stefanich | .... | stunts | |
| Shawnna Thibodeau | .... | stunt performer (as Shawnna Thibodeaw) | |
| Trampas Thompson | .... | stunt coordinator: New York | |
| Aaron Vexler | .... | stunt double: Ethan Hawke | |
| Katie Letien | .... | stunt double: Mrs.Stevenson (uncredited) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Lainie Anderson | .... | additional costumer | |
| Safiyyah Fatin | .... | wardrobe production assistant | |
| Jane Gerber | .... | additional wardrobe assistant | |
| Shawnique Hill | .... | costume supervisor | |
| Delvan James | .... | on set costumer | |
| Alyssa Rodriguez | .... | additional costumer | |
| Gina Ruiz | .... | assistant costume designer | |
| Gina Ruiz | .... | costume assistant | |
| Jessica Wenger | .... | costume supervisor: Los Angeles | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Reggie Diaz | .... | digital intermediate producer: Cinelicious | |
| Tony Dustin | .... | digital intermediate colorist: Technicolor | |
| Tyler Fagerstrom | .... | digital intermediate assistant: Cinelicious | |
| Paul Korver | .... | post production consultant: Super 8mm | |
| Sarah C. Reeves | .... | first assistant editor | |
| Steve Rodriguez | .... | digital intermediate colorist: Cinelicious | |
| David E. Schneider | .... | digital intermediate editor: Technicolor (as Dave Schneider) | |
| Brian Swanson | .... | additional assistant editor | |
| Christine Vasquez | .... | digital intermediate producer: Technicolor (as Christine Dougherty) | |
| Gilbert Carreras | .... | color timer (uncredited) | |
Music Department | |||
| Jason Acuna | .... | composer: additional music | |
| Jason Acuna | .... | music sound designer | |
| Jason Acuna | .... | synth programming | |
| Marc Aramian | .... | composer: additional music | |
| Marc Aramian | .... | music sound designer | |
| Marc Aramian | .... | synth programming | |
| Samantha Barker | .... | score music coordinator | |
| Sebastian C. Besquet | .... | orchestrator (as Sebastian Cano Besquet) | |
| Art Denissov | .... | music sound designer | |
| Art Denissov | .... | synth programming | |
| Thomas Milano | .... | music editor | |
| Rebecca Nunez | .... | score coordinator | |
| Megumi Sasano | .... | score coordinator | |
| Daniel Wehr | .... | composer: additional music | |
| Daniel Wehr | .... | music sound designer | |
| Daniel Wehr | .... | synth programming | |
| Christopher Young | .... | orchestrator | |
| Max Blomgren | .... | additional synthesizer programming (uncredited) | |
Transportation Department | |||
| J. Tom Jones | .... | transportation captain: LA Unit (as Tom Jones) | |
| Herb Lieberz | .... | transportation coordinator | |
| Scott Lieberz | .... | driver | |
| James Messersmith | .... | driver: Los Angeles | |
| Gary O'Connell | .... | driver | |
| Gary O'Connell | .... | driver | |
| Harry Ycaza | .... | production driver | |
| Stacy Robinson | .... | driver: Los Angeles (uncredited) | |
Thanks | |||
| Angie Conners | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Diego Fernando Coronel | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Jonathan Deckter | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Alex Demetriades | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Stuart Ford | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| W.B. Kirby Hill | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contributions and support to the making of this movie | |
| Sammy Janowitz | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Stephen Kempser | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Richard Kuhnla | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Julie Mandelbaum | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Dror Mohar | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Miguel Palos | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Frank Prugo | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Michael Roban | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Tavis Smiley | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contributions and support to the making of this movie | |
| Lauren Valenti | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Bonnie Voland | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Rebecca Weis | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution | |
| Cornel West | .... | the filmmakers wish to extend their personal thanks for their contribution (as Dr. Cornel West) | |
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| The Hound of the Baskervilles | All Good Things | Maniac Cop 2 | Revived | The Devil Inside |
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| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Horror section | IMDb USA section |
Ellison, played by Ethan Hawke, is a true crime novelist who is looking to publish a bestseller more than ten years after the release of his hit book, "Kentucky Blood". Ellison moves his family (a wife and two young kids) into a house that was the scene of a grisly crime, leaving a mother, father, and two children dead, and a third child missing. Upon moving in, Ellison finds a box of super 8 films in the attic. On the tapes are the murders of the family who previously lived in his house and four other murders dating back to 1966. The only connection between the murders is a symbol found in all the videos. With his marriage deteriorating and his children's behavior becoming increasingly strange, Ellison is determined to connect the dots and possibly even solve the string of gruesome murders.
I'm sure everyone is familiar with the popular 'scary maze game'. Even if you know what is going to happen, you will most likely be scared in the moments leading up to the 'big scare'. You aren't scared of what is on the screen, but you're scared of what is about to be on the screen. That is the difference between surprise and horror. If the moments leading up to a jump scare are suspenseful, the actual scare is considered 'earned'. Too many horror movies nowadays have unearned jump scares. 'Sinister' is not at all one of those movies. It has it's fair share of jump scares, but after the initial shock, you don't feel at all relieved. The scares stick with you and you will go back to being just as tense as you were before the scare.
Another way 'Sinister' differs from most modern horror movies is that it actually focuses on plot. The film's director Scott Derrickson spends just as much time focusing on plot development as he does on scaring us, much like he did with 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose'. Since the characters are more developed and have more depth, we are able to relate to them much easier. 'Sinister' is more of a drama about family than it is a horror movie.
Ethan Hawke gives one of the best performances I've ever seen in a horror movie. He is great through the entire movie, but especially shines in scenes where he is frustrated. Juliet Rylance who plays his equally as frustrated wife is also great. With great performances from the two leads, it almost doesn't matter how well-acted the characters of their children are, but they are great nonetheless. Michael Hall D'Addario who plays Trevor provides one of the most shocking and terrifying scares I've ever seen (I just wish it wasn't in the trailer. However, if it wasn't, I may have peed).
I was lucky enough to see this movie in advance and attend a Q&A session with the director and writer. In the Q&A, they mentioned how this is a new take on the 'found footage' genre. This time however, instead of an "anonymous source" finding the footage and "editing" it from 36 hours to 80 minutes, the main character is the one who finds the footage. The audience is shown the footage, but not all at once. It is split up perfectly. Every time you hear the projector power up, you will automatically begin looking through the tiny slits between your fingers and you will certainly hold your breath.
'Sinister' is disturbing. 'Sinister' is 'Saw' level disturbing. During some scenes, I was actually trembling. The ending is also extremely messed up and surprising. And messed up. Not to mention messed up. The shocking imagery and twisted murders with certainly stick with you. Luckily you won't have any nightmares about the movie, but that's only because you won't be sleeping at all.
'Sinister' is the scariest horror movie in years and the best overall in the last decade. Horror fans will flock to see this movie and will not be disappointed. It is well-acted, well- written, well-directed, and most importantly, terrifying. If you see only one horror movie the rest of the year, let this be it. It is near-perfect and a step in the right direction for horror movies.
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