Freak Show

Sinister 2 is fine, but not as good as the first movie

Director: Ciaran Foy
Starring: James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon
Studios: Alliance Films, Automatik Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions, Entertainment One, IM Global, Tank Caterpillar, Inc.
Distributed by: Gramercy Pictures, Focus Features
Released Dates: August 21, 2015

Plot: A mother and her two sons are being terrorized by a demon named Baghuul and the ghostly children that he have taken.



Scott Derrickson's Sinister (2012) was one of the best horror film three years ago upon it's release. The film was well received by critics and horror fans at that time. It also launched Ethan Hawke's career, with him starring in other genre films the following years like The Purge (2013), Getaway, Predestination (2014) and Regression (2015). It was also one of those post-Insidious movies that was really able to scare the shit out of me.
So when I learned about this sequel, I was so excited to see it. So how did the film hold up? Well, let me share to you my thoughts about the film in another edition of Certified Ace!

Not A Lot Has Changed

The film still follows the same storyline, with a family moving into a house marked by death and the children being given the task of murdering his whole family while documenting the kills using Super 8 footage (yeah, they don't have smartphones or even digital cameras here, Baghuul definitely not updated). This time it follows a mom, Courtney (Shannyn Sossamon) and her two sons, Dylan and Zach (played by Robert Daniel Sloan and Dartanian Sloan).
The only thing that probably changed in this sequel is the ending. Unlike the first one which ended so tragically, this sequel has a bit of a happy ending. Almost. At least, they give people hope that not all horror films have to end up with every single character that they love dead.

Somewhat Short on Scares

The major problem with this sequel is perhaps it's change of tone. Just like what I mentioned, this sequel has a somewhat happy ending. Unlike the first one which was so dark and brooding, this sequel has a much lighter tone thanks to James Ransone's character, Deputy So & So ( I mean, with a name like that, who would laugh at his character?). This causes the film to give up it's scares. If compared with the first movie, this one doesn't offer a lot of jumps and jolts. It's more restrained on the jump scares but heavily depends on suspense. Suspense from putting these characters that the audience somehow liked, most specially Deputy So & So(due to being too charming for a film like this). This doesn't work very often. But it manages the final act of the film to be more exciting.

This is definitely Blumhouse' Next Insidious

Yeah. i have a strong feeling that this is gonna be Blumhouse Productions' next horror franchise after Insidious, Paranormal Activity and The Purge. With the PA Franchise nearing it's final installment with Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension in 3D (Yeah, you heard it right. Found Footage. In 3D.), they're obviously trying to make a franchise out of this. You can see it in the ending. It doesn't really offer enough resolution to the story. Obviously, the demon is still alive and is probably gonna come after the surviuving characters. Or perhaps he's gonna be looking for a new family. Maybe he's gonna even meet Elise from the Insidious franchise. Who knows? i just wish that if they're gonna make up a follow-up film after this, they better pump up the scares 'cause this sequel really disappoints with the lack of that.


Final Verdict: Despite some few clever scares and twists, Sinister 2 is still not as good as the first movie. It's diminished number of scares are disappointing compared to Scott Derrickson's film. The only thing that makes this film enjoyable are the leads, but their performaces are overshadowed but the film's failure in generating at least enough scares to match the original.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5