Sinister: A comparative scorecard

Sinister advertising brags that this is another movie from the same guys who brought us box-office horror hits Paranormal Activity and Insidious. What this really means is that Jason Blum is the producer and if you liked those movies, you should buy a ticket for this one. So I did (with very high expectations). And on that invitation to compare, here we go.

IDEA	B	A	A
EXECUTION	A	A	B-
ORIGINALITY	B-	A	B
SCARINESS	A	A	C
SCORE	What score?	A+	A-
VILLAIN	B+	A	B
ACTING	C	B+	A-
COMMENTS	This film is an example of a tired idea with skilled, yet simple, execution. What also makes it work is the way it plays off of the fear of the unknown. However, the "demonic haunting" parts could have been played up a whole lot more.	The first thing you notice about this film is its brilliant score, reminiscent of horror classics. It's also got near-flawless sci-fi logic and a monster we still fear when he is revealed. It's become one of my favourites.	What saves this film is stellar acting from Ethan Hawke in the lead. However, while the villain's mythology intrigues, the more we know, the less we're afraid. This film's execution unfortunately dampens a clever idea.
FINAL GRADE	B	A	B

While Sinister wasn't nearly as terrifying as I hoped and expected it to be, it was still a well-crafted horror movie (well, except for the crucial element of genuine scares). Lesson learned: I'll try not to set the bar too high next time. But it's kinda tough when Blum's next film, Area 51, is about one of my greatest fears of all.

Michelle's Top 10 of 2011, Part 2

5) Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I didn't really want to see this movie. When I first saw the trailer, I found no appeal in apes dominating the world, lashing out against cruel humanity, especially considering it was the prequel to a seemingly cheesy movie about more talking, plotting apes. But there seemed something more deeply sinister and compelling to the story. And there was. Through chimp Caesar, it begs to remind us that apes are people too (you know what I mean). Though it wouldn't have been possible without Andy Serkis behind the CGI, making us feel for Caesar, making him one of us. And yes, by the end, you'll be rooting for them as they wreck havok on our very own.


4) X-Men: First Class

Superhero movies are very formulaic. Act one: A superhero is born. Act two: Evil is born. Act three: Superhero fails against evil. Act four: Superhero strengthens and defeats evil. Right? But this one is different. It's the X-Men flick that goes against the entire series, contradicting story lines and re-defining characters. And thankfully so. What makes this superhero movie stand out against all others is threefold: the story, the acting and the just plain awesomeness. The story is complex, it's about how evil is rooted and the story of how friends with a common enemy became enemies themselves. The acting is amazing. It's almost a toss-up between frenemies James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, but Fassbender takes it, convincing you that there is some righteousness behind his evil. And then it's just awesome: Watching the mutants harness their powers, picking out familiar faces during the recruitment, then duking it out with the big guns. It puts the rest of the series to shame.


3) Insidious

Yeah, I know judging from the photo above, this movie doesn't look very scary. But that's because I was too scared to search for a different one. Seriously. I can't say much without spoiling it but after a couple moves into a new house, strange, chilling, supernatural things start happening. I saw this movie in theatres and came home running it over and over in my head, afraid to turn the lights off, afraid to go to bed, afraid of the dark and eerie shadows. It went on for days. And when the fear finally went away, it came out on DVD and I watched it again. And it began again. This is exactly why I watch horror movies, the fun in fear, which I rarely get. But I can guarantee you watching this one again will bring nightmares back.


2) Super 8

This was one of the most anticipated movies of the year for me, so it also came with the greatest fear of disappointment. But surpassed my expectations. The J. J. Abrams-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced sci-fi seemed like a darker E.T. And it kind of was. Though what made this movie for me was the kid-cast. Led by Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning, the crew of kids witnessed an awesomely CGI-ed train wreck as it unravelled into mystery and pulled them along with it. These young actors gave some of the most convincing performances I've seen all year, or even ever. Alongside, they've also got a subplot where they're shooting a zombie movie with Joe's (Courtney) Dad's camera, homemade firecrackers and all that good stuff. And then it's screened it during the credits. And let me tell you, it's just as awesome as the movie itself.

1) Midnight in Paris

This movie is sci-fi and fantasy disguised as drama. It's a fairy tale for grown ups, really. Not to mention, it's the funniest movie I've seen all year. Of course everyone is nostalgic about some period in history, some place in the world, some famous faces of the past. And a movie that explores one person's daydream of that is more than charming. But to a girl who loves Paris and literature, this movie becomes nearly her own daydream. Plus, it's hilarious in the most surprising places. "Have you ever shot a charging lion?" Ernest Hemingway (Corey Stoll) asks Gil (Owen Wilson). WHAT?! And Salvador Dalí (Adrien Brody) on about rhinoceroses, and Gertrude Stein's (Kathy Bates) writing advice! So good.

Honourable mentions: Scream 4, Moneyball

DVD: Insidious

Photo: amazon.ca

Starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne and Barbara Hershey. Directed by James Wan. 103 minutes. 14A

I watch horror films in hopes of getting scared. And in the past 10 years, I've been scared twice. The first time, it was Signs in 2002, which you might say wasn't a horror but if you were as afraid of aliens as I am then you'd understand. The second time was Insidious. I was afraid to be alone in the house. I was afraid to turn the lights off at night. I was afraid of shadows in dark corners. And just when the fear was fading off, I watched it again.

Insidious isn't about the creepy kid on the poster and DVD cover, so please do not let that image dissuade you. This is not akin to Case 39 or The Omen at all. However, I can't tell you exactly what this film is about, because that's all part of the fun. But this is what I will tell you. Renai (Rose Byrne) and Josh (Patrick Wilson) have just moved into a new house but everything just seems a bit odd (Renai's books get pulled off shelves, she hears noises in the attic). And when their son Dalton (Ty Simpkins) ends up in an unexplained coma, the oddities heighten into terror.

What really adds to the creepiness of the strange going-ons in the house is what I call the did-I-just-see-that effect. When Renai is out in the garden one day, she catches a dark shadowy figure through the window, dancing in her hallway. But when she runs to the next window, it's vanished. Kind of like when you're home alone and you think you see a shadow in the corner of your eye but when you take a closer look, there's nothing there. But maybe there was.

Rose Byrne in the lead is also very believable as a concerned but terrified mother who's desperately trying to convince her husband that some seriously scary stuff is going down when he's at work. (She's also been the every-genre actress lately. See: Bridesmaids and X-Men: First Class.)

But I must let you know, in order to be scared, you need to invest some belief. You need to be willing to second guess spooky shadows and jump at the creaks and cracks. If not, then you'll be able to sleep soundly at night. In the dark. Alone at home. And there's just no fun in that. A-