Sinister (2012) is a horror-thriller directed by Scott Derrickson, known for blending supernatural terror with psychological unease. Starring Ethan Hawke, the film stands out for its chilling atmosphere, haunting imagery, and one of the most disturbing villains in modern horror cinema — Bughuul, the eater of children.
Detailed Summary
Opening Scene: The Super 8 Nightmare
The film opens with grainy Super 8 footage showing a family being hanged from a tree — all four members with bags over their heads. There’s no music, just the creak of rope and the rustle of leaves. It’s a masterclass in setting the mood: unnerving, raw, and completely hopeless.
Ellison Oswalt Moves In
True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his wife Tracy and their two kids into a new house. Unbeknownst to them, it’s the very house where the hanging murders took place. Ellison’s goal? Write his next big bestseller about the unsolved crime. He’s desperate for fame again — his glory days as a best-selling author are behind him.
The Box in the Attic
While unpacking, Ellison discovers an old box in the attic labeled “Home Movies.” Inside are several reels of Super 8 film with seemingly innocent titles like “Pool Party ’66” and “Sleepy Time ’98.” When he watches them through a projector, he realizes they’re not home videos — they’re snuff films. Each reel documents a different family being brutally murdered: drownings, stabbings, hangings, and worse.
The Symbol and the Shadow
As Ellison studies the tapes, he notices a strange symbol appearing in every film. He also begins to see a tall, pale figure with hollow eyes lurking in the shadows of each recording. These eerie details pull him deeper into the mystery — and away from reality.
Paranormal Activity in the House
Soon after watching the films, Ellison starts hearing noises at night: footsteps, whispers, and the thud of something moving in the attic. His son begins to suffer from night terrors, and his daughter starts painting unsettling drawings on her bedroom walls — depicting the murdered families and a mysterious figure she calls “Mr. Boogie.”
The Truth Behind the Tapes
Ellison contacts a local deputy (nicknamed Deputy So-and-So) and a professor specializing in occult symbols. They discover that the symbol belongs to Bughuul, a pagan deity who consumes the souls of children. Each family in the films had a child who vanished after the murders — and these children are believed to have become Bughuul’s eternal servants.
Descent Into Madness
Despite repeated warnings, Ellison refuses to stop investigating. His obsession with finishing the book grows, and his behavior becomes erratic. The family starts breaking apart under the pressure. Eventually, after discovering a new reel titled “Extended Cut Endings,” Ellison witnesses even more horrific details of how the children — under Bughuul’s influence — murdered their own families.
The Move That Seals Their Fate
Realizing the danger, Ellison finally decides to burn the films and move his family out of the cursed house. He believes he’s broken the cycle — but in reality, that’s exactly what seals their fate. The professor later explains that the murders always occur after a family moves out of the house where the previous murders happened. Bughuul’s curse follows them to their new home.
Movie Ending
Once settled in their new house, Ellison discovers the same box of Super 8 films sitting in their attic — miraculously intact, even after he burned them. A new envelope has been added: “Family Painting ’12.”
As he begins to feel dizzy, he realizes his coffee is drugged. The camera pans down to reveal his daughter, Ashley, holding an axe and smiling eerily. She calmly tells him she’s going to “paint pictures like Mr. Boogie showed me.”
Ashley then murders her entire family — her father, mother, and brother — and uses their blood to paint pictures on the walls. We see glimpses of her grotesque artwork before she is taken away into Bughuul’s world through the screen of the projector.
The final scene shows Bughuul carrying Ashley into his netherworld, the projector flickering beside them as the eerie sound of the film reels turns to static. The box of films now includes a new title: “House Painting ’12.”
It’s one of the most shocking and effective horror endings of the 2010s — a slow, inevitable descent into doom that feels both tragic and horrifying.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, Sinister does not have a post-credits scene. The film ends definitively with Bughuul staring directly at the camera — a final jump scare that serves as the movie’s chilling exclamation point.
Type of Movie
Sinister is a supernatural horror film with elements of psychological thriller and found-footage horror. It’s more atmospheric and story-driven than gory, focusing on dread, slow-burn tension, and the fear of the unknown.
Cast
- Ethan Hawke as Ellison Oswalt
- Juliet Rylance as Tracy Oswalt
- Clare Foley as Ashley Oswalt
- Michael Hall D’Addario as Trevor Oswalt
- James Ransone as Deputy So-and-So
- Fred Thompson as Sheriff
- Nicholas King as Bughuul / Mr. Boogie
Film Music and Composer
The haunting and experimental soundtrack was composed by Christopher Young. His score combines industrial noise, deep drones, and distorted ambient soundscapes. It’s less a “musical score” and more a background nightmare — perfectly complementing the disturbing imagery.
Filming Locations
The film was shot primarily in Long Island, New York and Los Angeles, California. The suburban setting plays a crucial role in grounding the supernatural horror — it’s not an isolated gothic mansion but a typical family home, making the terror feel uncomfortably close to real life.
Awards and Nominations
While Sinister didn’t receive major awards, it became a cult hit among horror fans and critics praised its originality and chilling atmosphere. It was nominated for several genre-specific honors, including:
- Empire Award Nomination for Best Horror
- Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Wide-Release Film
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Ethan Hawke reportedly refused to see Bughuul’s design until his first day shooting scenes with him — to capture a genuine reaction of fear.
- The Super 8 “murder films” were shot with real film cameras to give them authentic texture and grain.
- The chilling sounds in the movie (whispers, screeches) were inspired by experimental noise music from the 1970s.
- Director Scott Derrickson used real found-footage techniques and kept the cast in the dark about certain scenes for realism.
Inspirations and References
The story was inspired by a nightmare Scott Derrickson had after watching real true-crime footage online. It also draws influence from The Ring (2002), with its cursed media theme, and The Shining (1980), with its portrayal of a writer descending into madness.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
While the released ending was always intended to be final, an alternate version reportedly featured a longer aftermath — showing Ashley’s drawings slowly coming to life on the walls. This version was cut for pacing and to preserve the ambiguity around Bughuul’s powers.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Sinister is not based on a book, though it heavily references true-crime writing and the dangers of obsession with violent stories — something that mirrors Ellison’s downfall.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The first viewing of “Pool Party ’66” — the drowning sequence that left audiences speechless.
- The attic reveal, when the ghost children surround Ellison in the dark.
- The horrifying twist ending with Ashley’s artwork.
Iconic Quotes
- Ellison: “I’m on the verge of a major book here.”
- Deputy So-and-So: “You moved into a crime scene?”
- Bughuul (silent but unforgettable): His stare says it all.
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Bughuul’s face can be briefly seen hidden in the computer monitor reflection when Ellison researches the symbol online.
- In the “Pool Party” film, Bughuul’s face flashes for only two frames underwater — blink and you’ll miss it.
- The films are titled by year, hinting at the ritualistic timing of Bughuul’s kills.
Trivia
- Sinister was written in five weeks after Derrickson had the nightmare that inspired it.
- It was so scary that scientific studies (yes, really) later ranked it the “scariest movie ever made” based on viewer heart rates.
- Bughuul’s look was inspired by black metal album covers and ancient pagan iconography.
Why Watch?
Because Sinister doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares — it’s pure dread. The story unfolds like a cursed riddle, with every discovery pulling you deeper into something unspeakable. It’s a must-watch for fans of slow-burn horror that actually gets under your skin and stays there.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
- Deliver Us from Evil (2014)
- Doctor Strange (2016)
- The Black Phone (2021)
