Ex-Deputy So & So (James
Ransone of The Valley of Violence
[2016 / trailer],
seen below with a friend but not from this film), perhaps the second
most-likable character of the first movie — the first being the writer's wife,
Tracy (Juliet Rylance), who like all other main characters of Sinister
(2012) isn't around for a sequel — has made it his mission to destroy all the
houses in which the demon Bughuul, the eater of souls, has led a child to kill
their family. He hopes that doing so will end the demon's evil influence, and
prevent future deaths. To his shock, however, he finds the latest house,
supposedly uninhabited, occupied by Courtney (Shannyn Sossamon of Wristcutters: A Love Story [2006 /
trailer]) and her two
sons — who are on the run from their well-connected, abusive husband/father,
Clint (Lea Coco)…
The movie mildly questions
whether evil and/or corruption lies in the person or is a learned
characteristic and, also, like Children
of the Corn (1984 / trailer;
2009 remake / trailer),
proves that cornfields are sites of horror. A lot more emphasis is put on the
realistic 8mm home "snuff films" of the past murders than in the
first film, and they are as creative as they are unsettling and/or horrific —
eventually, however, one cannot help but wonder why the demon Bughuul places
such importance on "creative" killings instead of just simple murder
using, say, knives or guns or even a handy stone.
For all the repulsiveness of
the snuff films, the whole movie itself is seldom truly scary and, despite a
game cast giving it their all, seems oddly listless and predictable. It doesn't
help that Sinister II plays so
freely with the tropes of the first film, resulting in a movie that comes
across somewhat as if an existing horror filmscript was quickly retooled as a
sequel. Nothing special, in other words, but good for a rainy day or undemanding souls.
Trailer to
Sinister II:
The semi-open ending leaves the possibility of a third film, which
doesn't yet seem to be in the cards… dare we pitch an idea? How about Bughull ❤ Annabelle?
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