Sinister 2 - A Movie Review

What’s that noise? Oh, the ghost kids like to watch movies in the basement.

Sinister 2 is a 2015 remake of the original 2012 film. Examining the ghostly events, and arranging to put everything to an end, Deputy So-and-So discovers a family living inside a cursed house. Thinking that they are safe, little do they know that a demon is watching them.

Upon enjoying the first Sinister movie, I didn’t think that I was going to enjoy the sequel. Sitting down to watch the film, I was on the edge of my seat. Sinister 2 was an equal mixture of horror and characterization. That’s a detail the first Sinister missed.

James Ransone was the only cast member to return from the original. As the fan-favorite amongst audiences, Deputy So-and-So, the (still) nameless deputy is on a mission to stop the evil. Instead, he finds himself in a different situation.

Ransone was excellent. He is a natural when it comes to comedic timing. I like the way he connected to his character. He is quirky, but he is sincere. That is his best quality. Deputy So-and-So even discovers that he has more courage than he thought.

In a contrast to the first film, there are more scenes dedicated to getting to know the family. Shannon Sossaman was great as Courtney. She fights for the safety of her children. Scenes with Ransone and Sossaman talking were my favorite. Courtney’s dedication as a mother is her best trait. With everything that occurs, she is always there to fight for her sons.

Robert Daniel Sloan and Dartanian Sloan had interesting roles. Based on their upbringing, they worked closely in the subtleties of their behavior. Dylan (Robert) is tortured by the ghost children of the house. Having no desire to cross to the dark side, he does an excellent job with his emotional performance and his inner battles.

As for Zach (Dartanian), I felt like his transition could have been worked on more. I was confused on whether he was supposed to be sociopathic, jealous, or being overpowered by the ghosts.

The young actors playing the creepy ghosts had a fun time. And Nicholas King returns as the terrifying ‘Boogey-Man’. But he is not the only monster. Lea Coco did a notable job as a despicable man. He made me jump out of my skin at an unexpected moment. And I cannot forget to mention Tate Ellington as Dr. Stomberg.

There are actually some pretty good jump scares. This Sinister film is not just about horror. It gives depth to the story and characters. That was missing from the first Sinister. Too much focus was placed on Ellison (Hawke) instead of demonstrating the dynamic with his family. Everyone gets an equal share of screen time.

Filmmakers once again excelled in the creation of the disturbing Super-8 home movies. Making these must not have been an easy process. The eerie noises and painful acts portrayed made my spine tingle. Great locations were picked to film the horrors in a dark abandoned church and houses. Makeup is also a standout.

Ciaran Foy managed to match the same atmosphere as the first film. He added an emotional layer to the story. The film was edited well. Foy created excellent camera tricks for a riveting climax. I will say that Foy spoonfed too many details. That’s one element that I did not enjoy because it ruined the mysterious atmosphere.

I enjoyed the mix between comedy, horror, and drama. I was surprised by how much I laughed. Before you decide to skip on Sinister 2, give the film a chance.