Sinister

True-crime writer Ellison Oswalt is in a slump. He hasn't had a bestseller in over a decade, and his career is fading. Desperate for a comeback, he moves his wife Tracy and their two children into the house where a family was brutally murdered. The previous residents, the Stevensons, were found hanged from a tree in their backyard, with one child still missing. Ellison sees this as the perfect subject for his next book, but his family is unaware of the home's dark history.

In the attic, Ellison discovers a box of Super 8 home movies labeled with cryptic titles like "Family Hanging Out" and "Pool Party." Each film depicts a different family being gruesomely murdered. As he watches, he notices a shadowy, pale-faced figure present at every killing. The entity, known as Bughuul or Mr. Boogie, is an ancient pagan deity that feeds on the souls of children. Ellison becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, even as his son sleepwalks and draws strange symbols, his daughter has night terrors, and the family dog vanishes.

Directed by Scott Derrickson and produced by Blumhouse Productions on a modest $3 million budget, Sinister became a massive box office success, grossing over $82 million worldwide. The film's chilling atmosphere and disturbing Super 8 footage earned it a cult following, with particular praise for Ethan Hawke's performance and Christopher Young's haunting score.[edit]

Ellison Oswalt, a true-crime author desperate for a hit after years of declining sales, moves his family into the home where the Stevenson family was murdered. The Stevensons were found hanged from a tree in their backyard, and their youngest child, Stephanie, was never found. Ellison hides the house's history from his wife Tracy and their children, Ashley and Trevor, hoping to solve the case and write a bestselling book.

In the attic, Ellison finds a box of Super 8 home movies labeled with titles like "Family Hanging Out," "Pool Party," "Sleepy Time," and "BBQ '79." Each film shows a family being murdered in a different way: a family hanged, a family drowned in a pool, a family burned alive in their car, a family slaughtered in their beds, and a family mowed down with a lawnmower. Despite the horrific content, Ellison becomes obsessed with the films, watching them repeatedly. He notices a shadowy figure with a pale, elongated face appearing in each one.

Strange events begin to plague the Oswalts. Trevor sleepwalks and draws the same occult symbols found in the murder houses. Ashley has night terrors. The family dog disappears. The house itself seems malevolent: lights flicker, strange noises come from the attic, and Ellison experiences vivid nightmares. He contacts Professor Jonas, an occult expert, who identifies the figure as Bughuul, an ancient pagan deity that consumes the souls of children. Jonas explains that Bughuul can only enter the world through the children of murdered families, using the Super 8 films as a medium to trap souls.

Local sheriff Fred Thompson warns Ellison to stay away from the case, but deputy So-and-So takes a sympathetic interest. Ellison discovers that in each murder, one child went missing, presumably taken by Bughuul. He realizes that the missing Stevenson girl might still be alive or connected to the entity. The deeper Ellison digs, the more the supernatural forces close in on his own family. He must choose between his career ambition and his family's safety, but Bughuul's influence is already spreading through Trevor.[edit]