The following is my analysis of the film Sinister. I am especially interested in limited locations
films as they are the ones that can be made on shoe string budgets. Spoilers are ahead.
While Sinister is a must see for limited location filmmakers, I found it only moderately entertaining. This film stars Ethan Hawke and is primarily set in one house with a few scenes in a second house. It tells the story of a non-fiction crime author trying to reclaim his former success by moving into a house where a family had been murdered and the killer has not been brought to justice.
The director does an excellent job of avoiding any sort of claustrophobic feeling with the spacious home. Some of the film may have been shot on a set as Hawke's office looked bigger than the Oval office and the attic was also inordinately large. The house is also a single story structure. I believe the film would have actually worked fine or even better in a normal size house. Curiously, the filmmakers utilize little of the exterior despite being situated in a rural wooded area. Also actor Fred Thompson has a cameo where he appears in the morning and at night so one presumes he was paid for only one day of shooting.
The confines of the house are expanded primarily using "found footage" of families being murdered, a television interview, and web camera computer phone conversations. Additional stimulus and information is provided by a sheriff deputy who eagerly wants to help Hawke who is considered to be a celebrity.
The weakness of many limited location films is the reason for staying in the one location is often forced. In Sinister, Hawke is desperate to write another best selling novel and becomes more adamant about staying in the house as he begins to piece together the mystery of various murdered families in what would become a blockbuster. He says things like, "I can't go back to editing college textbooks. I can't." They discuss things like not eating out for awhile while their old house is being sold. It has all of the signs of some so-called screenwriting expert piling on reasons for doing the irrational. Hawke's wife played by Juliet Rylance has the thankless task of constantly nagging him about his past and not wanting to be part of another horrific murder investigation. Ultimately, the reason for staying in the house feels contrived or at least putting his family in harm's way does. No amount of money is going to justify endangering your family.
What should have the filmmakers done? Sinister is filled with backstories that could have been expanded. The long suffering wife who remains loyal on the ups and downs of an author's career. The teenage son who is bullied at school because of Hawke's notoriety. A troubled younger daughter who draws on the walls. The sheriff who makes it clear that Hawke's family is not welcome. I know what the filmmakers wanted to do. All of these people serve as opposition to Hawke's goal of unravelling this mystery and writing the book. Unfortunately, they also serve as easy and valid excuses to abandon the endeavor. By pushing forward, Hawke comes across as selfish and reckless.
I think the story would have worked better if the backstories were not directly related to Hawke's writing career. Perhaps, Hawke wants to write the book because it allows him to stay home and keep his family together whereas his previous career took him away. Also I don't think most people understand what a text book editor does and would not be sympathetic about not wanting to do that job. Perhaps, Hawke's wife could have been the one with drinking problem. Perhaps, the son's behavioral problems stem from something else. The point is that the filmmakers don't offer a valid reason for staying at the home once danger appears.
Another issue is that the mystery is often hard to follow. Since Hawke is an author, it would make sense to recap what has proceeded to his publisher and thus the audience.
Lastly, the mysterious villain of this movie is profoundly absent. We catch glimpses but never get a sense he is active or exactly what his goals are.
Sinister has good scares and great production value but doesn't quite hit the mark with a lead character that needs to be smarter and a villain that needs to be a bit more visible. Anyone who is making a limited locations movie should invest some time in watching this movie for its positive as well as negative aspects.
