Many successful horror films spawn a long series of diminishing returns. But the “Sinister” saga – based on a demon who enjoys screening snuff filmstrips with an ancient projector – only had enough material for two films.
Riding the goodwill
Or more like one-and-a-half. The original is one of the best horror films of 2012, and “Sinister 2” (2015) coasts on our residual appreciation for a while. James Ransone, credited as Ex-Deputy So & So because we never learn his name, is the connection to part one (along with the demon Bughuul, again played by Nick King). The deputy was a friend of Ethan Hawke’s protagonist.
Ransone and Shannyn Sossamon’s Courtney play out a sweet relationship between two nervous people who find they can trust one another in this cruel world. Tate Ellington adds character-actor flavor as a researcher of the boogeyman’s killings and mythology.
“Sinister 2” (2015)
Director: Ciaran Foy
Writers: Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill
Stars: James Ransone, Shannyn Sossamon, Robert Sloan
Behind this, a Lifetime Movie vibe creeps in more menacingly than Bughuul. Courtney has a wicked son (Dartanian Sloan as Zach) and a meek son (Robert Sloan as Dylan) who are always fighting. The former takes after the father, the latter after the mom.
When the father (Lea Coco as Clint) comes on screen to claim custody of these kids he doesn’t even like, “Sinister 2” becomes a cartoon. Yes, we hate the guy as we are supposed to. But every scene with Clint is unappealing both for the hopelessness of Courtney’s situation and its clichéd nature.
Country living
Initially, it’s not surprising that the sequel comes from the same writers as the original, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill.
As the mom and kids shop in a country grocery store, the quiet Midwestern summer vibe is appealing. It’s enhanced further by their house (with the filmstrips conveniently in the basement) and a boarded-up murder-church next door where Courtney refurbishes antique furniture.
Ciaran Foy steps in to direct, and he’s especially effective with the snuff films, which are increasingly creative in their torture and violence. Jigsaw from the “Saw” movies would find old-school charm in them.
Not the best playmates
Gradually making us realize Courtney is a pretty awful (if well-meaning) mother, Dylan regularly hangs out with the ghost kids without her knowledge.
Lead ghost Milo (Lucas Jade Zumann) promises Dylan that if he watches all the filmstrips, he’ll stop having nightmares. Bully logic carries over to the afterlife, it seems.
Courtney and Dylan aren’t layered characters, they are simply Not Evil. Ransone provides more sympathy as the ex-deputy (his not-quite-suave lines to Courtney are good for a chuckle).
But no one has a chance of making “Sinister 2’s” ending into something to take seriously. It runs off its reel in its grand finale. (SPOILERS FOLLOW.)
Dumb denouement
Bughuul – who has Blair Witchian powers of manipulation — gets ticked off when the camera gets destroyed under Zach’s auspices. I grant that rickety old films have a certain charm. I even advocate that modern theaters should play low-volume audio of a projector to give us that flavor.
But for that to be Bughuul’s breaking point is bizarre and humorous. OK, so a digitally shot snuff film will do nothing for the demon. But come on, he can’t track down another old camera somewhere? Being an antique, I guess it would be expensive. Bughuul has power across dimensions, but apparently his cash flow is hurting.
At any rate, the “Sinister” team set down their camera after this one. It’s just as well when the villain becomes defanged.