2012’s “Sinister” was a rare surprise. While it did depend on a number of common, run-of-the-mill gimmicks, “Sinister” had enough smarts behind it to succeed where many modern horror movies fail. It slowly built a compelling story. It never went overboard. It had some unsettling but satisfying twists. It was a huge hit meaning a sequel was inevitable in this money-starved movie climate. Unfortunately “Sinister 2” has none of the ingredients that made the first film enjoyable.
C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson return as co-writers but you certainly can’t tell. I don’t know if they used up all their tricks in the first film, but “Sinister 2” is a flat and uninspired retread that feels like one big cash grab. Nothing about it sets it apart as uniquely its own and nothing comes close to living up to its predecessor.
James Ransone is back but his character has turned in his deputy’s badge after the gruesome events of the first film. Now he works as a private detective investigating a series of murders each connected to the monstrous Bughuul (aka The Boogieman). His research leads him to a single mother named Courtney (Shannyn Sossamon) who is on the run from her abusive husband along with her two young sons. They’ve taken up residence in an isolated farmhouse, but the detective isn’t the only one to find them. Bughuul and his band of macabre kiddies have a special connection there which isn’t a good thing.
I will give the story a little credit. It does try to expand on the premise created in the first film. But literally nothing in the sequel sparks any interest or has the same creepy effect as before. The scares are nonexistent. The film can’t create any legitimate tension. There isn’t an interesting character in the entire thing. And by the time we get to the end it has flown completely off the rails.
And then there are the performances. I hate to be too critical but James Ransone left me dumbfounded. I have absolutely no idea what he is going for, but he gives one of the most unsure and tone-deaf performances I’ve seen in a long time. He seems completely out of tune with his character and doesn’t show confidence in conveying any of his character’s emotions. It doesn’t help that all of the child performances are wobbly and Lea Coco is especially awful as the over-the-top abusive father and husband.
So basically what I’m saying is “Sinister 2” is a profound mess of a movie. It stumbles around in a constant state of lethargy failing in every category that the first film nailed. Sadly the movie made money well above its budget which means we could get another one of these. But after this sloppy cash-in I can’t see me wasting my time on it.
Keith & the Movies 
Lousy, uninspired sequels would go in my Room 101
This thing is lousy and it is definitely uninspired. YAWN!
1.5.Haha add that to the fact that I can never sit through a real horror film, I’m so not watching this. But that’s good cos that means I can read your review haha 🙂 1.5/5 still aint as bad a score as I gave Knight of cups though!
Oh it is dreadful. You see a little effort in its attempt at adding to the original story. But it can only milk the original so much. This is one where you can be proud at not being a horror fan! LOL
Hope you can check my review out! Haha, I really really want to watch The Witch but guess what, it isn’t showing in my country. Bummer. Well at least I’m watching Mustang this weekend 🙂
I saw it posted but was really hoping to see it before catching up on the reviews. I know it is getting blasted. I really liked Malick’s last two pictures. This one hasn’t quite excited me as much. Still hasn’t opened in this area.
Ugh, this. Great review, of course, but goodness, this movie sucked. I watched the first one again recently because, as you say, it was a pleasant little surprise. Flawed, sure, but pretty good. I started this useless sequel after that, and I just couldn’t do it. My other half and I stopped, and I said I would get back to it but never did. Maybe one day…
Seriously, this was an unnecessary sequel. It was so stupid.
Isn’t it horrible. It was one of the rare times where I found myself checking my phone out of boredom. And the performances!!! My gosh, some of the worse.
I saw this one in theaters back in August, and hated nearly every second. The very definition of a cashgrab.
Yep!!!! It was punishing at home. I can’t imagine making a special trip to the theater and being treated to that garb.
That’s a shame. Like you, I enjoyed the first one too, but this sounds like a weightless pretender. Odd too, given the same writers are back.
Exactly. As I mentioned, they must have used up every original thought in the first film. This thing meanders along and never gets its footing. Don’t waste your time.
spot on bro. this was drek. 90 minutes of my valuable time I’ll never recover. ugh…and to think there may be more down the line…
You’ll never get it back bro…lol
Such a shame. I headed over to your review hoping you’d tell me that Sinister 2 surpassed it’s previous, but thanks for sparing me the time. I love Horror movies but when they lack scare… I mean, what’s the point, eh?
I actually appreciated the first movie but the second was an absolute mess. It’s funny, practically nothing from it has stuck with me. I just remember being terribly bored throughout.
Yeah… I loved Sinister. I guess sequels aren’t always a good idea…
Definitely not in this case. It’s a shame since the first film set things up well.