Sinister 2 (2015) | Movie Review

In 2012’s “Sinister”, director Scott Derrickson introduced an intriguing twist on the Boogeyman lore of horror films – this antagonist, known only as Bughuul, is omnipresent yet absent at the same time. While our hero, Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), desperately sifted through numerous 8mm ‘kill films’ in search of clues to an elusive serial killer, this ominous foe relegated himself to the background. Only a continued obsession would bring Bughuul’s wrath forth, so the trick became simply to figuratively and literally place that nagging ‘need-to-know’ firmly back in that dusty box.

Three years later, “Sinister 2” reminds us that Ellison chose poorly. Investigating the Oswalt family murders, former Deputy So & So (James Ransone) – possibly the most on-the-nose character name in the history of film – believes he has uncovered the truth behind Bughuul and his horrific acts. So & So’s investigation leads him to a remote farmhouse, where recently separated Courtney Collins (Shannyn Sossamon) hides from her abusive husband with her two young sons, Dylan and Zach. As we all know, desolate surroundings are vacation spots for specters, and it is here that Bughuul lies in wait to overcast his looming shadow once again.

Having already answered the question as to ‘What’ happened, “Sinister 2” veers on a new course with a heading set to ‘How’. As So & So ponders the supernatural possibilities, Dylan and Zach begin to see the souls of lost children, who also illuminate the audience as to how Bughuul’s plan is truly set-in-motion (which I will not spoil in this review).

To be frank, I was not a fan of the first “Sinister”. The entirety of that film centered around the gimmick of the ‘kill films’ themselves, and each time we finished one, the tension collapsed. For “Sinister 2”, returning writers Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill went against the grain of viewers expecting a rehash of that story from a different viewpoint, and instead took us down another, vastly expanded path. Essentially two films are consistently at play here – So & So’s probing into the murders and their long-tenured history, and the Collins boys discovering the mechanics of the truth for themselves. Smartly, the writers have also utilized this universe to allow for other forms of unearthly communication in the forms of ham radios, albums, and 16mm films. Bughuul is quite the underworld entrepreneur.

Bumping Ransone’s character to lead affords “Sinister 2” some much-appreciated levity to the proceedings, as So & So stumbles his way charmingly through extremely dour circumstances. With most films of this ilk completely ignoring the need for humor, Ransone’s depiction of petrified courage solidifies our investment in his well-being and, unlike so many heroes in horror, he keeps the audience engaged. So & So is all of us, therefore we NEED him to survive.

Following up her solid recent stint on “Wayward Pines”, Sossamon also avoids numerous horror clichés as she portrays Courtney to be a fierce mother who only fears the harsh realities of her own situation, oblivious to what those choices might ultimately cost her. Dylan and Zach are played by real-life siblings Robert and Dartanian Sloan, a move that pays off in spades as their relationship shifts drastically throughout the film. The one issue of note I had with “Sinister 2” came in the depiction of the deceased children haunting Dylan. A pivotal piece of “Sinister 2” lies in their tiny hands, and their obvious lack of experience kept these beats from hitting the emotional impact necessary to tie these threads neatly together.

Ciarán Foy (“Citadel”) took the directing reins from Derrickson – who left the series to work on Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” – and this turned out to be a welcome switch. Derrickson, who garners credit for crafting a compelling mystery in that first film, seemed to struggle with how to shoot a stationary ghoul in a manner that terrified us. Foy has a more sure-hand with creating atmosphere that works for this type of story, and uses numerous touches of lighting and motion to unnerve us anytime Bughuul is lurking nearby, cementing his position as an up-and-coming director to watch.

“Sinister 2” is a definite improvement on the first film, enriching the narrative with a heavier emphasis on mood and expanding the universe as a whole. A few miscast children does little to discount the strength of our leads in Ransone, Sossamon, and the Sloan brothers. Director Foy has managed to spark this franchise to life for me, and after several whiffed balls and cinematic blunders earlier this season, “Sinister 2” is the best horror film of the summer.

Read our interview with Ciarán Foy here.

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider