In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

After several horror websites raved about this movie I was expecting a lot more. I guess the plot was okay but the execution left much to be desired. I get it, horror movies are dark for a reason but when you literally cannot see what is going on it's gone too far. The music was good. There were several parts I just could not see. It did not grasp my attention. Conversely when spooky figures were on screen, they were on screen a LONG time. This is where the quick shots are normally but we got to have a good look at the figures, examine them, and then they continued to stand on screen. The jump scares didn't work because they were only when nothing was happening. If the jump scares were quick shots of the ghost children or whatever the heck they were it probably would have got me. Instead I stared at the screen wondering why dead kids doing the shhh thing is scary in literally every other movie besides this one.

I'm always wary of advertising campaigns riding the coattails of big summer movies. It cheapens everything when a movie boasts the PRODUCERS of other horror movies, as though they're directors. I always expect a rehash of the aforementioned films into a familiar formula that will sell tickets. Sinister is most of those things. The beginning of this movie looks promising, creating huge atmosphere; often at the cost of realism (nobody turns on a light in this movie!). Our true crime author protagonist (Ethan Hawke) intentionally moves into a murder house, hoping for inspiration for his new book. He hits the jackpot when he finds a bunch of snuff films in the attic (including the murder of the previous owners). They are genuinely creepy, and easily the redeeming quality of this movie. Then, of course, strange things start happening. Shortly after this film dips into the paranormal, we spend the rest of the film drowning in a highly predictable mess of horror cliches. From ridiculous jump scares of faces popping out of the corner of the screen (think "TOASY" from the old Mortal Kombat games), to our antagonist wearing a Slipknot mask. The worst offender, however, are the ghost children and their awful makeup. It was cheap haunted house quality, and killed the atmosphere every time. Even the "plot twist" was easy to notice in the first half hour of the film. Sinister is worth it to see the snuff films, but everything else may have you rolling your eyes.

I enjoyed 'Sinister 2' so made the move to watch its prequel – to find I'd actually seen it before and had forgotten. I'm not sure what that says about me or the film. It doesn't avoid what the sequel managed to avoid – the curse of the bratty kid. In fact, both children belonging to Ethan Hawke's Ellison Oswalt are pretty obnoxious at times. As Bad Things happen, the children become more precocious. This is a difficult problem, and one that can actually ruin a film for me. Troubled children don't have to be petulant, do they? Luckily, they don't go on to play a huge part in the story.Earning him the chagrin of the local constabulary, Oswalt moves into the house where previously, gruesome murders have taken place. Unfortunately, his wife and offspring are not told about this history. He has moved himself and the family here so he can research the horrific incidents for a book he is writing. He also finds an ally in Deputy 'So & So' (James Ransone), who is the one cast member to appear in the sequel.'Sinister' is a fairly routine haunted house horror a couple of notches above the usual 'family in peril' fare, lifted by the performances of Hawke and Juliet Rylance as his English-but-American-speaking wife Tracy. It is somewhat overlong and slow-moving, but I don't really have a problem with that. Oswalt trips down the familiar path of encroaching obsession and insanity, a descent sprinkled with the occasional ghost-faced child. The main villain, the Gothic and spectral Bughuul, makes a fleeting appearance and is pretty menacing, making me wonder why the character isn't used more.I actually prefer the sequel. The production seems tighter and less traditional, as recompense for a lack of a 'name' lead. Both films have notable musical soundtracks; this deliciously dark OST is by Christopher Young.

I was blown away by this film it should have get more attention when it came out the ending is great. I love this Film so much. Sadly the sequel wasn't half as good as this one here. Ethan Hawke did a great job and the terror is breathtakingly intense. Good script, good cgi and everything is done right for a creepy film. This is a the perfect Halloween Movie.