Sinister

In an attempt to restore his ailing career, a true crime writer moves his family into a house to write the definitive account of the murders that happened there. But when he starts to investigate a box of snuff movies he discovers in the attic, he opens an ancient can of worms that threatens them all.

It's an ingenious hook to hang a horror film on. As we watch the movies with him - alone in the dark, of course - they're undeniably creepy and effective, earning some genuine scares and contributing to a pervasive atmosphere of dread and menace.

It's a shame when the more traditional supernatural elements take over as they're both underdeveloped conceptually and look like cheap Halloween costumes. But despite creative misfires, the basic idea is fun and Ethan Hawke playing an unapologetic asshat is perfectly watchable. It may not live up to its potential, but there's still enough for a horror fan looking for something new. [Scotty McKellar]