Three years after Sinister reared it's horrific head the long awaited sequel finally hit theaters. SINISTER II was released in theaters in 2015 and the director's chair was passed from Scott Derrickson to Ciaran Foy. Derrickson however stayed on to produce and write the script along with C. Robert Cargill who wrote the script with Derrickson for the first film. The producers brought back nearly everyone from behind the camera of the first film for the sequel as well as one actor. Essentially the whole crew is back under a new director.
THE PLOT
Deputy So & So has been on a mission since the deaths of the Oswalt family. What he discovered while digging deeper into the Oswalt case was a world of evil he never dreamed existed. Picking up where Ellison Oswalt's research ended, the now ex Deputy So & So has traveled across the country to where similar horrific events had occurred. Not only has he discovered the pattern but he has also come across a way of fighting the evil: burning down the sites where the bloody rituals had taken place. If he can burn them all down before any other innocent people inhabit them then he will prevent the evil from spreading. When driving up to the next site on his list he discovers a family already living in the house and the evil ritual already at work. He has no choice but to save the family and put himself directly in the path of an ancient demonic entity.
THE GOOD
A New Point of View. Rather than the classic horror sequel troupe of basically repeating the same story and the same formula as the original, Derrickson and Cargill's script for Sinister II shows the audience the demonic infestation from a new angle. The demon Bughuul haunts children and eventually persuades them to murder their family. The first film explored this concept through the eyes of an adult true crime author. Sinister II shows the audience a similar story but through the eyes of the children. Sinister II provides a whole new perspective on Bughuul making the sequel feel fresh and new rather than a rehash of the original like so many other horror sequels. But don't worry. Everything that made the original film a truly terrifying delight is present here: the 8 mm home videos, the disturbing music, and the creepy children all return.
Fighting Evil. Actor James Ransone returns as Deputy So & So and delivers a wonderful performance. The script takes Ransone's character in new directions rather than merely mirroring Ethan Hawke's role from the first film. Deputy So & So takes the fight to Bughuul in a creative and interesting way. His battle with Bughuul places him in the demon's sights too resulting in some of the scariest scenes in the film, the scene in the old church being a personal favorite. Bughuul himself is just as menacing and scary as he was in the original. The character design for Bughuul is simple yet frightening with hints of more evil lurking beneath the surface.
THE BAD
The Tone. The film feels a bit rushed, almost as if the script was too big for a 97 minute film and they crammed it all in anyway. This doesn't detract from the film all that much as the scares come in quicker succession and the plot develops all the faster. This isn't a bad quality but rather a personal preference. The first film developed at a slower pace and as a result felt more natural. The original film's scares felt more suspenseful. Sinister II has some fantastic moments worthy of the original but also has few moments that feel rushed and slightly forced. Again, not necessarily a bad thing as the movie moves along at a faster pace and engages the audience right away. And perhaps that was the intent of the filmmakers.
THE VERDICT
Sinister II delivers everything you loved about the original film and presents it through fresh eyes. The mythos surrounding the demon Bughuul are expanded upon and a nemesis is created to combat the evil. For those of you wanting a straight repeat of the original, do not expect to get it here. Sinister II is a new angle and a different direction. Personally I hope a Sinister III comes our way eventually as there is one more perspective yet to be explored: Bughuul himself. The character is so interesting and terrifying that he begs further exploration. I thoroughly enjoyed Sinister and Sinister II and look forward to more.
Overall Ranking: 6 out of 10
(Above Average. Worth the Price)
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10
For more films by Scott Derrickson check out these other horror gems below
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