SINISTER 2

US, 2017, 97 minutes, Colour.
James Ransone, Shannon Sossamon, Robert Daniel Sloan, Dartanian Sloan, John Beasley.
Directed by Ciaran Foy.

Sinister was a very effective horror film, focusing on an author and his research, his family setting into a new home, the gradual influence of an ancient demonic figure, a university professor giving information, but a climax where one of the children kills the parents and films it.

Sinister 2 is rather different. It lacks the focused intensity of the first film. There is continuity in the central character being the Deputy on the first case, James Ransone. The theme of the killer children and their filming the deaths becomes one of the main features of this sequel.

There are many nightmare sequences, especially in opening with three people on crosses and their being burnt to death – later revealed as the killing of a family, along with quite a number of films of such murders, with the ghostly children continuing to haunt.

At the opening of the film, the Deputy goes to a very sympathetic priest in the confessional, even though he is not a Catholic, discussing the nature of evil, the priest talking about the importance of protection from evil and urging the deputy not to continue with his case. The deputy has been burning down houses where the killings have taken place. He researches another house and goes to burn it down only to find that a mother and her twin sons, fleeing an abusive husband, are in residence.

The film focuses on the twins, a good twin, a bad twin. The good twin has been chosen by the ghostly children to participate in the killing of his family, showing him the various films, assuring him that his nightmares, which are very vivid, will cease. His twin brother is jealous, wanting to be chosen. The situation builds up to a presence of the demonic monster, instilling fear into the Deputy through his computer researches and ham radio broadcasts, leading to the burning of the old church where murders have taken place and the adjoining mention.

Director Ciaran Foy had made a British horror film, Citadel. Collaborating on this screenplay was Scott Derrickson, director of such films as The Exorcism of Emily Rose and the director of the original Sinister.

1. The title, the links with the first film, the demonic character, the device of the children murdering their parents, hauntings?

2. The rural American setting, the town, offices, University? The contrast with the mansion in the countryside, the interiors of the house, the interior of the old church? The basement? The opening with the church and to the confessional sequence? The musical score?

3. The opening, the Deputy and his anxieties, going to the church, into the confessional, the encounter with the priest? His not being a Catholic but wanting to talk confidentially? Sympathetic priest, the language of the confessional, opening the grill, listening, the discussion about evil, not combating evil but protecting from evil? The priest and his knowledge of the case, warning the Deputy not to become involved?

4. Courtney and the twins, the abuse of Clint, wanting custody, their escaping, going to the house, the murder in the church, Courtney and her restoring of antiques in the church, the boys playing, their rivalries? The sequence in the supermarket, the boys fighting with the toy guns, their having to flee from the supermarket, her husband’s spy?

5. Life in the house, Dylan and his nightmares? The children appearing? Their being the killers from the previous stories? The record, the film clips and the recording of the killings? The opening with the three on the cross and the fire? The further gruesome killings? Dylan being chosen by the children? The boy and his leadership, the other boy, the girl? Taking Dylan down to the basement? His having to watch the films? The promise that he would not have nightmares?

6. Zach, his rivalry with his brother, wanting to be chosen, his rejection by the ghosts, his violence against his brother? Good twin, bad twin? Zach and his defying his mother, being like his father? The confrontation with the ghosts, his being destroyed by fire and his mother and Dylan seeing this?

7. The Deputy, his arrival, checking with the estate agent about the empty house, his burning the houses where the murders took place? His wanting to protect people? His shock of discovering the family had moved in? Courtney and confronting him, thinking he was a private detective for her husband? His explaining himself, invited to stay?

8. The husband’s arrival, the police, the Deputy calling their bluff, their backing off?

9. The Deputy, his computer and research, the demonic symbols, the images? Going to the professor, their discussions? The radio playing? The records of the ham radio broadcasts? Mysterious atmosphere?

10. Dylan, the victim, chosen, his rejecting the ghosts?

11. The buildup to the confrontation, the Deputy with the family, the fire and the destruction of the church, the house? The appearance of the demonic figure?

12. Seemingly at peace – but indications for further work for the Deputy?