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Sinister

  • 20122012
  • RR
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
239K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,265
146
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Clare Foley in Sinister (2012)
Found footage helps a true-crime novelist realize how and why a family was murdered in his new home, though his discoveries put his entire family in the path of a supernatural entity.
Play trailer2:16
2 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorMysteryThriller

Washed-up true crime writer Ellison Oswalt finds a box of super 8 home movies in his new home that suggest the murder that he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose le... Read allWashed-up true crime writer Ellison Oswalt finds a box of super 8 home movies in his new home that suggest the murder that he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.Washed-up true crime writer Ellison Oswalt finds a box of super 8 home movies in his new home that suggest the murder that he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose legacy dates back to the 1960s.

IMDb RATING
6.8/10
239K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,265
146
  • Director
    • Scott Derrickson
  • Writers
    • Scott Derrickson
    • C. Robert Cargill
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Juliet Rylance
    • James Ransone
Top credits
  • Director
    • Scott Derrickson
  • Writers
    • Scott Derrickson
    • C. Robert Cargill
  • Stars
    • Ethan Hawke
    • Juliet Rylance
    • James Ransone
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 794User reviews
    • 330Critic reviews
    • 53Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 14 nominations

    Videos2

    Redband Version
    Trailer 2:16
    Redband Version
    No. 1
    Trailer 2:31
    No. 1

    Photos115

    Juliet Rylance in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke in Sinister (2012)
    Michael Hall D'Addario in Sinister (2012)
    Clare Foley in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke and James Ransone in Sinister (2012)
    Scott Derrickson and Christopher Norr in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke, Scott Derrickson, and Christopher Norr in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke in Sinister (2012)
    Fred Thompson in Sinister (2012)
    Ethan Hawke in Sinister (2012)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ethan Hawke
    Ethan Hawke
    • Ellison Oswaltas Ellison Oswalt
    Juliet Rylance
    Juliet Rylance
    • Tracyas Tracy
    James Ransone
    James Ransone
    • Deputyas Deputy
    Fred Thompson
    Fred Thompson
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    Michael Hall D'Addario
    Michael Hall D'Addario
    • Trevoras Trevor
    Clare Foley
    Clare Foley
    • Ashleyas Ashley
    Rob Riley
    • E.M.T.as E.M.T.
    Tavis Smiley
    Tavis Smiley
    • Anchoras Anchor
    Janet Zappala
    • Reporteras Reporter
    Victoria Leigh
    Victoria Leigh
    • Stephanieas Stephanie
    Cameron Ocasio
    Cameron Ocasio
    • BBQ Boyas BBQ Boy
    Ethan Haberfield
    • Pool Party Boyas Pool Party Boy
    Danielle Kotch
    Danielle Kotch
    • Lawn Girlas Lawn Girl
    Blake Mizrahi
    Blake Mizrahi
    • Sleepy Time Boyas Sleepy Time Boy
    Nicholas King
    Nicholas King
    • Bughuulas Bughuul
    • (as Nick King)
    • …
    Lorraine Aceves
    • BBQ Momas BBQ Mom
    • (uncredited)
    Chester the Chihuahua
    Chester the Chihuahua
    • Barking Dogas Barking Dog
    • (uncredited)
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    Vincent D'Onofrio
    • Professor Jonasas Professor Jonas
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Scott Derrickson
    • Writers
      • Scott Derrickson
      • C. Robert Cargill
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Crime writer Ellison Oswalt moves his family into a house where a horrific crime took place earlier, but his family doesn't know. He begins researching the crime in hopes of writing a book about it. Oswalt examines video footage that he finds in the house to help him in his research, but he soon discovers more than he bargained for. —Michael Hallows Eve
    writerfound footagejump scareboxsuper 8126 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Once you see him, nothing can save you.
    • Genres
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for disturbing violent images and some terror
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Writer C. Robert Cargill got the idea for the script from a nightmare he had after watching The Ring (2002).
    • Goofs
      (at around 4 mins) Near the beginning of the film, we see Ashley painting a girl in red on the wall. We see that Ashley has painted the girl fully in red, however, in the next shot we see that the girl has a white space where the red paint was before.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Ashley: Don't worry, Daddy. I'll make you famous again.

    • Connections
      Edited into 5 Second Movies: Sinister (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Silence Teaches You How to Sing
      Written by Kristoffer Rygg, Joern Henrik Sværen, Tore Ylvisaker
      Performed by Ulver
      Courtesy of Jester Records, Oslo, Norway

    User reviews794

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Unpleasant and tense Ringu ripoff
    This ghostly drama about power of images and children killers was a big commercial success. It skillfully builds atmosphere, jams a few jump scares and non sequiturs, but overall it almost makes sense. Though essentially a Ringu ripoff, it has enough novel elements to be an interesting and unnerving viewing. Overall, a decent scary supernatural film, somewhat based in reality, but on closer inspection, more kitschy than artsy.
    helpful•8
    2
    • perica-43151
    • Oct 31, 2020

    FAQ13

    • Why was Vincent D'Onofrio uncredited?
    • What is "Sinister" about?
    • Is "Sinister" based on a book?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 12, 2012 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Found Footage
    • Filming locations
      • Long Island, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Alliance
      • IM Global
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,086,903
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,007,634
      • Oct 14, 2012
    • Gross worldwide
      • $82,515,113
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Datasat
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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