Friday. Money in the bank. Time - 12:45pm. Check the local cinema for times. First screening for Sinister - 1:30pm, screen 2. I'm there by 1:10pm and as it turned out I was the only person to see the film at that time. Awesome, the whole theatre to myself!
Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) is a struggling true crime writer who hasn't had a top selling book for over ten years and has moved his family around during that time in search of another story that will give him a shot at the fame and fortune once again.
His wife Tracy (Juliet Rylance), son Trevor (Michael Hall D'Addario) and daughter Ashley (Clare Foley) are moving into their new home while being watched by the local law enforcement. Ellison's last two books didn't go down well with the police and the local Sheriff's office know why the Oswalt family are moving in.
Ellison has a habit of moving into homes that are a few doors down from where the crime he is investigating has taken place. But this time, he gone that little bit closer and moved into the house where murders had taken place and a little girl has gone missing. The Sheriff (Fred Dalton Thompson) politely lets Ellison know that he's not welcome in town!
As soon as they are in the house, an eerie overtone is set. This is literally between five and ten minutes in! There's no long build here like a lot of horror movies suffer from, we're thrown straight into the deep end, as is Ellison with the discovery of a box in the attic that contains 8mm reel footage and a projector. So instead of hitting the hay with Tracy, he stays up to watch the footage.
There's a number of reels and they all show gruesome murders. Each is a family being killed, each in there own sick way. After examining the films closer he notices a strange figure, the same figure, in each murder reel. This is when things start to happen. Trevor starts having night terrors and Ellison starts to hear noises coming from the attic. He checks out the attic only to fall through the floor onto the hallway below.
After receiving medical attention and the aid of a local Deputy, Ellison befriends the Deputy and recruits him to help with the investigation. Deputy So and So (James Ransone), yes that is what Ellison calls him, ends up gathering some pretty damn good information and along with the help of Professor Jonas (Vincent D'Onofrio) from the local university, Ellison soon realises that all the families in the footage are linked and he has taken on more than he can handle as it's not just effecting him, but effecting his wife and kids. In an effort to find the truth about a real crime, an ancient supernatural evil is now at play and he may be too late to stop it.
Let's get the negative side out of the way first. It was predictable in parts, especially the ending. But I was willing to over look this as evrything else was fantastic.
I was freaked out at certain points and a couple of times it did actually make me jump. Did the fact I was sat in an empty theatre add to that? Yes, but don't let that fool you, this is genuinely scary and I'm rarely made to jump while watching films due to the fact I watch so much horror. They're not just cheap scares either because they're backed up by everything else that happens and I know that this film will stay in my head for a few days to come!
What you see on screen, the SFX, the acting, the content of the found footage, is all made more effective by the truly frightening score. Ethan Hawke's performance is outstanding and even the light comedic act from James Ransone gets serious the more we see him. In fact, I can't fault anyone in this movie.
Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose) directed his own and C. Robert Cargill's excellent screenplay superbly. And credit has to be given to producer Jason Blum, as the Paranormal Activity franchiseand Insidious made some serious bank at the box office and I'm sure Sinister will too.
This isn't just your standard horror, it's so much more than just a horror movie. It's part found footage, part supernatural chiller, part crime thriller and it should keep you glued to the screen with anxiety. It surpassed my expectations and I had high hopes for it!
Sinister gets 9/10
Check out this TV spot trailer below...
The movie opens with the classic slashers set up - Stacy (Nikki Limo), a baby sitter, is waiting for young Mary's father to come home from work. In the mean time, while sat in front of a laptop, Mary (Darrien Skylar) strikes up a conversation with Stacy about Internet chat rooms and the urban legend of "Smiley."
Legend says Smiley can be summoned through the Internet by typing "I did it for the lulz" three times on a chat room. Later that night, when Stacy is back home after the baby sitting gig, she goes on line to check out the chat rooms.
She gets talking to a guy and it doesn't take long before he gets aggressive with the comments he posts. Stacy receives the dreaded message from the guy, "I did it for the lulz" three times.
ENTER SMILEY!
This was a great start to the proceedings as it had a real old school slasher feel to it and hopefully setting the tone for the rest of the film to follow suit.
We're now introduced to Ashley (Caitlin Gerard) as her dad (Billy St. John) is helping her move into a house near the collage Ashley is starting at. Already living in the house is Proxy (Melanie Papalia). Ashley is quite a shy timid girl, who is also still in recovery from the loss of her mother, while Proxy is a bit of a party girl. So to make Ashley welcome Proxy suggest she tags along to party.
At the party, the alcohol is flowing and people are having a great time. Ashley is introduced to Zane (Andrew James Allen) as well as some of his friends, one of which is watching a video on his laptop. The video is of someone getting murdered by the demented serial killer Smiley and in turn she is told about the urban legend. The fragile Ashley is freaked out by what she's just seen and been told, but at the same time it also intrigues her.
Later that night, back at home, both the girls decide to troll the chat rooms. This leads to one thing, after choosing an appropriate looking person they start up a conversation and inevitably Ashley types and sends the "I did it for the lulz" three times!
"Evil Wears a Smile"
What happens next throughout the film is a bit up and down. It lacked a lot of tension that should have been created in between the kill scenes. However, this is made up for, although not in bucket loads, by Caitlin Gerard performance. As Ashley delves deeper into the urban legend, Proxy becomes more of a cynic and now Ashley can't decide whether she is losing her mind or becoming Smiley's next victim. So she seeks the help of a new friend Binder (Shane Dawson), psychiatrist Dr. Jenkins (Liza Weil), Officer Diamond (Keith David) and collage tutor Professor Clayton (Roger Bart), who gives the best performance in the film by the way. But in the end she realises that she can only depend upon herself!
This film had so much potential, but didn't quite hit the mark. It could have been this generations Scream and it did remind me of it a little. Using today's modern technology with how big the worldwide web has gotten was a fantastic story. I feel that director Michael J. Gallagher didn't make the most of the script he co-wrote with Glasgow Phillips. The special SFX worked great, but the score also lacked that certain something.
Don't get me wrong, I still thought it was a pretty cool movie as the ending was brilliant and I think it's worth giving a go. I actually hope a sequel will be in the works soon!
The much anticipated sequel to The Vicious Brothers' Grave Encounters has hit VOD in the US this week and will head to the big screen October 12th. I loved the first film so of course I was looking forward to the second instalment. The sequel however is directed byJohn Poliquin and this is his first time directing a full length feature. Once again though, The Vicious Brothers have penned the script. The very beginning of the movie, we see various vloggers giving there views on Grave Encounters, which was a horror phenomenon that many people believed was just a movie! But film student Alex Wright (Richard Harmon) is out to prove the fans wrong by making a his own documentary. Alex travels around hoping to find and interview anyone that was involved with the filming and making of Grave Encounters. This isn't an easy task though, as most the cast are either dead or missing! Undeterred by this, Alex manages to track down the producer, Jerry Hartfield (Ben Wilkinson) who concretes the idea that Grave Encounters was indeed more than just a movie. Spurred on by the information, Alex recruits the help of Tessa, Jared, Jennifer and Trevor (Stephanie Bennett, Howie Lai, Leanne Lapp, Dylan Playfair). They jump on a plane and make there way to the abandoned psychiatric hospital, where the movie Grave Encounters was filmed, to start their own investigation. From the start of the film to the guys arriving at the psychiatric hospital takes around 40 minutes and what goes on between could quite possibly lose your attention, but stick with it as once they're inside, it all gets very manic, very fast!
This movie doesn't just rehash the events of the first film. It also dives deeper into the madness and takes it too the next level. When filming inside the abandoned building, the entities start causing trouble quicker and the crew of film makers start to bite the dust sooner. But towards the end of the movie it starts to take a turn in a direction you really don't expect, but this isn't necessarily a good thing! Not giving away too much here, but if you've seen Episode 50, you'll know what I mean. Suffice it to say, Grave Encounters 2 does NOT get to the point of silliness that is Episode 50!
The movie has a few twists, turns and surprises and we get see a couple of new ghostly faces among the darkness of the psychiatric hospital. The SFX are just like what is used in the first film, so they're still simple yet effective.
The acting is what you'd expect, it's not bad, but it's not gonna win any Oscars. That said, Richard Harmon does do a decent job of carrying the movie. As for the story it's self, it is a little weak compared to the first instalment, although John Poliquin's direction is solid.
So, my overall thoughts, if you liked or loved Grave Encounters then you'll like number 2. But it still isn't as good as the first film. As I said earlier, the first half an hour or so might not keep your attention and the ending is a little inconsistent with what we've seen and come to love from the initial story, but it still has that overtone of creepiness and some good old fashioned scares.
This found footage anthology is set up by the first part of the film, which is the main story arc and also returns to it between each of the other stories. So I'll start at the beginning...
Tape 56 Director - Adam Wingard Writer - Simon Barrett
The tale follows a group of misfits, that seem to have nothing better to do with their time than exposing random women's boobs and smashing up empty buildings all while recording the misdeeds on camera, until one of the men tells them of an offer from an unknown source that involves retrieving a VHS tape from a seemingly empty house.
When they arrive at the house and break in, they search all over and find an old man in an upstairs room, but he is presumed dead so the guys carry on and search the house for the VHS tape.
Although it's not quite that simple, as there are dozens of tapes that they have to sift through and watch to make sure they have the right one before they can leave. This then shows us the other 5 films, all caught on a home video camera. But in between watching each tape, strange things start to happen and one by one the shady characters get more than what they bargained for.
The Cast -
Calvin Reeder as Gary
Lane Hughes as Zak
Kentucker Audley as Rox
Adam Wingard as Brad
Frank Stack as Old Man
Amateur Night Director - David Bruckner Writers - David Bruckner & Nicholas Tecosky
Three male friends are getting ready for a night out. One prepped with a pair of glasses which contains a hidden camera. The plan is simple, pull a couple of chicks, get them back to the motel and record themselves getting down and dirty!
The alcohol and drug fuelled evening goes to plan. Two girls three guys, what could go wrong? One of the girls, Lily, is quietly weird though. She has massive eyes and has taken a creepy shine to Clint, who is wearing the glasses.
Back at the motel they try their luck, but Lisa passes out due to the drugs. So Shane tries it on with the weird girl and things get hot and heavy. However, little frail Lily is out for more than a one night stand. Sexual heat turns into heated blood!
The Cast -
Hannah Fierman as Lily Mike Donlan as Shane Joe Sykes as Patrick Drew Sawyer as Clint Jas Sams as Lisa
2nd Honeymoon Director & Writer - Ti West
Sam and Stephanie are on a road trip for their 2nd Honeymoon. The couple visit a Wild West themed park where Stephanie receives a prediction from a mechanical fortune teller.
The prediction says that she will be visited by a loved one.
Later that
night at the motel they are stopping in, the couple is visited by a strange woman who asks for a ride in the morning. Sam
declines her request and the girl leaves.
After the lights are off and the couple have settled down to sleep, someone breaks into the room and videos them with Sam's own camera.
With Sam and Stephanie's seemingly perfect relationship, comes somewhat of a stalker, which leads to Stephanie being more than what meets the eye.
The Cast -
Joe Swanberg as Sam Sophia Takal as Stephanie Kate Lyn Sheil as The Stalker
Tuesday the 17th Director & Writer - Glenn Mcquaid
Wendy, Joey, Spider and Samantha, visit Wendy's home town and take a walk in the nearby woods. Along the way, the camera flashes glimpses of bodies.
Wendy starts getting a little strange by telling the group scary and confusing things. There's a rather dark reason Wendy has returned to these woods. She starts to tell Joey about her past and an "accident" that happened involving her friends and a mysterious man, although nobody believed her story.
Set on getting to the truth behind the events of her past,Wendy and her friends are now in mortal danger as an unfathomable figure appears as a glitch on the camera.
The Cast -
Norma C. Quinones as Wendy Drew Moerlein as Joey Jason Yachanin as Spider Jeannine Yoder a Samantha
The Sick Thing That Happened to Emily When She Was Younger Director - Joe Swanberg Writer - Simon Barrett
Emily and her doctor-to-be boyfriend James, video chat over their laptops with one another. Emily tells James that she thinks her apartment maybe haunted and she also has a troubling mark on her arm that reminds her of her "leg when she was younger."
As she sits talking to James we see strange movement in the background of what appears to be a child. This freaks Emily out so she decides to walk around the apartment with her laptop facing outwards so James can see while she closes her eyes!
What happens next is something disturbing, leading us to think that this has happened more than once.
The Cast -
Helen Rogers as Emily Daniel Kaufman as Janes
10/31/98 Director & Writer - Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, Justin Martinez, Chad Villella)
It's Halloween and Chad, Matt, Tyler and Paul are in search of a party! Dressed in full costume, the Unabomber, a pirate, a teddy bear (with a hidden camera) and a marine, the four boys head to the address they were given, which is a strangers house. They arrive at the location, but the house is deserted.
They all look around each room downstairs and upstairs. Tyler (in the bear suit), starts seeing things though. Soon after, they start to hear loud chanting coming from the attic. So they check it out only to find a group of men and a bound girl.
Thinking this is just a joke, their minds soon change when one of the men assaults the girl. While the boys try to save the defenceless young woman, the men that have bound her start being pulled to the ceiling by an unseen force. Now they have freed the young captive, the four costumed lads try to escape the house as more disturbing paranormal events occur. Will they get out alive or will this be their last Halloween?!
The Cast -
Chad Villella as Chad Matt Bettinelli-Olpin as Matt Tyler Gillett as Tyler Paul Natonek as Paul Nicole Erb as The Girl
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In this collection of stories, we are taken through found footage versions of various
horror sub genres, from the slasher films of the ’80s, to the occult and
exorcism films of the ’70s, to the more modern torture porn and supernatural tales of the ’00s.
With some really shaky cam work at times, this might be something haters of found footage wouldn't normally go for, but don't let that ruin it for you as this low budget horror is very cleverly put together with some inventive writing.
The acting is convincing, but the one standout performance for me is from Hannah Fierman in Amateur Night. The directing is spot on, bringing more than just scares, it has some real tension too. The SFX are effective for the low budget and the editing is excellent.
My favourites pieces out of the them all are Amateur Night and 10/31/98.
A couple of the stories might leave you wanting more, but overall this is a solid horror anthology that everyone should give a go.
