Struggling true-crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) moves his family to a small town, chasing a lead he hopes will revive his failing career. He’s investigating the gruesome unsolved murder of a young family who were hung from a tree, and moves into the house where the murders occurred.

While unpacking, Ellison discovers an old box containing a projector and a series of innocently titled 8mm film reels which he assumes are old home movies; the truth, however, is far more sinister. Each reel contains footage of a family being brutally murdered and, as his obsession with the films grows, Ellison is haunted by a series of strange and frightening events that threaten his safety and that of his family.

Is a serial killer responsible for all these deaths? Why would they leave behind the footage? And can Ellison uncover the truth in time to save his family from an enemy far more dangerous than he could ever imagine?

Sinister is a taut horror/crime/thriller directed by Scott Derrickson which will keep you guessing until the end. Each new and often graphic film reel raises more questions than it answers and, as the movie continues, Ellison’s research becomes increasingly more disturbing. Then a twist takes the plot in an unexpected direction.

Derrickson shrouds his characters in darkness, and his use of dimly lit rooms allows the audience’s imagination to run wild, which means that it’s often what you don’t see that scares you. The viewer is so busy peering into the darkness, expecting something to happen, that they aren’t entirely prepared for when it does. The film’s use of eerie background music and distorted sound effects builds tension and adds another layer of suspense to the film.

Hawke delivers a strong performance as Ellison, with his naturally gaunt facial features helping him to portray the stress and emotional turmoil his character experiences. A serious James Ransone plays the unnamed deputy who becomes Oswalt’s only ally in the investigation, while Juliet Rylance is his long-suffering wife Tracy and young actors Michael Hall D’Addario and Clare Foley give strong performances as the couple’s two children, who have their own frightening experiences inside the house; I was especially impressed with the ease with which young Foley handles her demanding role.

Sinister is not without its faults: it seems incredibly convenient that Ellison knows how to operate the old projector and flawlessly edit its films, and the script is rather simple. Despite this, I really enjoyed the film and it is worth watching it a second time, as you will notice many little clues which don’t initially seem important.