The film centers on
Deputy So-and-So (James Ransone), the only returning character from the first,
as he attempts to destroy the child snatcher demon Bughuul by burning all the
houses he has previously disturbed. Things go less according to plan when a
house is found to be inhabited by a mother (Shannyn Sossamon) and her sons
(Robert Daniel Sloan & Dartanian Sloan), throwing a proverbial wrench into
the Deputy’s plans. The determined Deputy only has a limited amount of time to
dispel Bughuul’s curse before the family is killed in gruesome fashion.
One of the most
unique ideas of the original, and honestly what gave it the creepiness it had,
was the 8mm films that Bughuul has used to corrupt the children and eventually
possess them. The beauty of their use in the first film was that they always
were used in story to help Ethan Hawke’s character get to the bottom of how the
demon operated. However in the sequel, each film is presented simply to scare
and is very illogically used device. The son’s simply go along with viewing the
disturbing images before them and then just going to bed. There isn’t any sense
of dread, as the kids know exactly what is going on the entire time, thus
creating a lack of suspense and mystery.
Beyond that,
Bughuul is used in such a way that he loses any scary factor he had gained in
the first film. Before there was a sense of creepiness and vagueness to him,
but here he is simply standing in a doorway or in a window as if he was placed
there simply for the audience to see. He never does anything truly scary, as
even the corruption of the children seems to be taken on by the previously
possessed children.
Speaking of
children, the child actors in this film are laughable. Sure I know child actors
aren’t the best to begin with, but some of the line delivery here is cringe
worthy, almost as if they’re reading them off of cue cards. Beyond these
children, the other actors are serviceable enough. James Ransone plays the kind
of awkward Deputy pretty well and his chemistry with Sossamon is tolerable. I
personally thought Sossamon did a pretty fantastic job for what was given to
her.
Overall Sinister 2
is a lackluster attempt to expand the mythology of Bughuul and his demon
activities. The clichés are innumerable
and illogical (Why not overpower the 10 year old with a sickle instead of
running through a cornfield?). Most of the scares are very jumpy or out of
place, with an overreliance on shock value with the 8mm films. It’s quite clear
the follow-up was lacking the stylistic touch of Scott Derrickson and the
acting of someone like Ethan Hawke, instead giving us a rather dull and overly
predictable horror film. (2.5/10)
So what did you think of Sinister 2? Have you seen it, are you interested in seeing it, or are you you just too scared of what Bughuul might do? Sound off below with your comments or feedback and remember to come back for weekly reviews.
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