31 Day Horror Challenge Day Thirteen: Sinister(2012)

A story is a very interesting and meticulous thing reminiscent of mechanical watch.  If one of the parts fails to work, the entire machine shuts down.  Sinister is a prime example of this as it is a film that could have been great but is done in by its own typical ending.

Prolific true crime author, Ellison Oswalt and his family move into a new home to serve as inspiration for his next book.  While putting things away in the attic, he discovers a box containing an old super 8 camera and 5 films.  Each film shows the brutal and savage murder of a different family.  The only thing linking the films seems to be the presence of a dark figure.  As Ellison starts uncovering more and more about these films, it begins to effect him and is family in several terrifying ways.

Sinister has some of the scariest moments, aside from a few cliche jump scares, I can recall in recent cinema.  The acting from lead characters is great, the direction is fantastic but the story just had too many holes and too weak a pay off for this to be a classic in my book.  Either way, the first hour or so of this movie makes it all worthwhile.

7/10 stars.