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Sinister 2 Blu-ray Review

     Directors: Ciaran Foy
  • Format: Digital_copy
  • Language: English (DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1)
  • Subtitles: Spanish
  • Subtitles for the Hearing Impaired: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • Release Date: January 12, 2016
  • Digital Copy Expiration Date: May 2, 2016
  • Run Time: 98 minutes

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            The beginning of Sinister 2 felt like a Hollywood remake of Goodnight Mommy, before quickly devolving into a typical sequel to the generic 2012 supernatural horror film. The villain in this series is an evil spirit called Baghuul, which is essentially just a mix between the boogeyman and whatever the angry spirits in The Ring franchise are. When viewers of old family videos, which turn into found-footage snuff films (Saw meets Paranormal Activity), Baghuul appears and possesses one of the family children to kill the rest of the family. They also record the murders for their own film to continue the cycle. The sequel continues this storyline while also attempting to pay homage to Stephen King’s Children of the Corn. And perhaps this is the problem; in my first paragraph attempting to describe Sinister 2, I have already mentioned five other horror franchises.

     

            Beginning with a new family, new house, and an all-new set of ghost children, Sinister 2 brings many of the same horror tactics of the original, without the benefit of the surprise ending. This time the supernatural attack takes place on a remote rural farmhouse recently inhabited by Courtney (Shannyn Sossamon) a battered wife hiding in an attempt to protect her twin sons, Dylan and Zach (Robert and Dartanian Sloan), from their abusive father (Leo Coco). The back-story involving a powerful husband willing to use his affluence and influence to track down his wife and sons is merely an excuse to keep Courtney and her boys in the farmhouse, never needing any resolution once the paranormal activity begins.

     

            The only character to return from the original film is the police officer known only as “Deputy So & So” (James Ransone),  though he has lost his job in law enforcement and instead dedicated his life to destroying the homes affected by Baghuul’s curse. It turns out that a family becomes victim as soon as they move in, leaving ‘Ex- Deputy So & So’ few chances to help Courtney and her boys. To make matters worse, one of Courtney’s sons has already begun watching the reels of old home footage and can see the various ghost children from the home’s chain of homicides.

     

            My biggest problem with the Sinister franchise is the only thing separating it from the many other horror films it appears to be imitating/copying. I don’t mind horror violence, but the murders in the found footage have no suspense. They are creative and disturbing, but don’t have the same sense of humor as similar murders in the Saw franchise. There is something far darker in the struggle-free murders of Sinister 2, providing no choices or warped morality behind the torturous deaths. This is just evil, and it is second-hand evil at that.

     

            The high definition is hardly necessary for the most crucial moments of the film, because great effort has been taken to use found footage with a purposefully aged look. So it is somewhat ironic that the exclusive special feature included on the Blu-ray is the extended versions of the ‘kill films.’ Also included are deleted scenes, a making-of featurette, and a commentary track with director Ciarán Foy (Citadel).

     

    Entertainment Value: 6/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 6/10

    Historical Significance:  3.5/10

    Special Features: 5.5/10




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