Movies

[BD Review] ‘Sinister’ Is Super Scary But Doesn’t Always Add Up

Published

12 years ago

March 12, 2012

Summit Entertainment’s Sinister had a “secret” screening last night at The SXSW Film Festival in Austin. I had to put “secret” in quotes because a certain trade magazine decided to spoil the surprise just because they could. Directed by The Exorcism of Emily Rose‘s Scott Derrickson, the film stars Ethan Hawke, James Ranson, and Juliet Rylance and there’s been quite a bit of anticipation for it, especially considering that it doesn’t open until October 5th. Sadly, the film didn’t live up to expectations. Mr. Disgusting writes in with his review.

“While the chiller will cloud your mind with extreme visuals and a brooding score/sound design, you shouldn’t be tricked into thinking this is a good movie… Sinister is a plot-laden mess that requires an incredibly high amount of suspension of disbelief. The best way to describe it is ‘8MM’ meets ‘Paranormal Activity’. In an odd turn of events, this film is still highly recommended for those seeking one good scare and an unnerved stomach, it’s highly effective.”

Penned by Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, “the story follows a journalist who moves his family into a house where another family was murdered. After moving in, he uncovers found footage that leads to clues about the murders.”

Click here for the review.

EvanDickson

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Movies

‘The Exorcism’ Trailer – Russell Crowe Gets Possessed in Meta Horror Movie from Producer Kevin Williamson

Published

1 hour ago

April 25, 2024

John Squires

Russell Crowe (The Pope’s Exorcist) is starring in a brand new meta possession horror movie titled The Exorcism, and Vertical has unleashed the official trailer this afternoon.

Vertical has picked up the North American rights to The Exorcism, which they’ll be bringing to theaters on June 7. Shudder is also on board to bring the film home later this year.

Joshua John Miller, who wrote 2015’s The Final Girls and also starred in films including Near Dark and And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird, directed The Exorcism.

Joshua John Miller also wrote the script with M.A. Fortin (The Final Girls). This one is personal for Miller, as his late father was the star of the best possession movie ever made.

Miller said in a statement this week, “The origins of the film stem from my childhood spent watching my father, Jason Miller, playing the doomed Father Karras flinging himself out a window at the climax of The Exorcist. If that wasn’t haunting enough on its own, my dad never shied away from telling me stories of just how “cursed” the movie was: the mysterious fires that plagued the production, the strange deaths, the lifelong injuries— the list went on and on. The lore of any “cursed film” has captivated me ever since.”

“With The Exorcism, we wanted to update the possession movie formula (“Heroic man rescues woman from forces she’s too weak and simple to battle herself!”) for a world where no one group owns goodness and decency over another,” he adds. “We were gifted with an extraordinary cast and creative team to tell a story about how we’re all vulnerable to darkness, to perpetuating it, if we fail to face our demons. The devil may retaliate, but what other choice do we have?”

The film had previously been announced under the title The Georgetown Project.

“The Exorcism follows Anthony Miller (Crowe), a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play.”

Sam Worthington (Avatar: The Way of Water), Chloe Bailey (Praise This), Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) and David Hyde Pierce (Frasier) also star.

Of particular note, Kevin Williamson (Scream, Sick) produced The Exorcism.