Ethan Hawke’s role in Sinister as true crime writer Ellison Oswalt is another highlight in his career, especially when considering the film’s dark and horrifying conclusion. The movie, which was released in 2012, stands as one of Blumhouse’s most successful films, grossing over $82 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.
Its chilling demon and Hawke’s impressive performance left horror fans terrified and thrilled. The ending is particularly remarkable for how it delivers a twist that lingers in the viewer’s mind, making it an intelligent, well-crafted horror experience.
Ethan Hawke delivers a performance that elevates the terror of Sinister (Photo: Sinister/Blumhouse Productions)The final moments of Sinister fit perfectly within the realm of horror films that end on a deeply unsettling note, leaving audiences in suspense long after the movie ends.
What Is Sinister About?
Ethan Hawke has left a lasting impact on horror with his memorable performances in both Sinister and The Black Phone. While the villain in The Black Phone is undeniably chilling, the terror in Sinister is more emotionally unsettling.
In this film, Hawke plays Ellison Oswalt, a crime writer who moves his family into a new house to research his next book. However, this is no ordinary haunted house story, as the house holds dark secrets that quickly take a terrifying turn.
As Ellison digs into the history of the house, he discovers tapes of brutal murders, eventually learning that the previous occupants were killed under mysterious circumstances. It is during this investigation that Ellison comes face-to-face with the demon Bughuul.
Realizing that the only way to save his family might be to stop the demon before it’s too late. The twist in Sinister comes from the fact that Ellison knows from the start that victory is not guaranteed, which sets the film apart from typical horror movies.
Though Sinister is undeniably terrifying, Ethan Hawke spoke in an interview with MTV News about how much fun he had filming the movie. Initially, he had doubts about the intensity of starring in a horror film, but he quickly realized that making the movie was enjoyable.
“I believe that’s why for years I never wanted to make one of these movies. I thought it would be terrifying to make it. But the irony is of course that it’s incredibly fun to make it. It’s kind of like telling a ghost story at midnight with a bunch of friends.
You just laugh a lot and it seems silly. I just had a great time making it,” Hawke explained.
What Happens At The End Of Sinister?
The ending of Sinister is both shocking and unsettling. As Ellison begins to feel increasingly strange, he realizes that his daughter Ashley (Claire Foley) has been possessed by Bughuul.
In a horrifying moment, Ellison sees green liquid in his coffee cup and hears Ashley’s chilling note saying, “Good night, Daddy,” just before he passes out.
Uncovering the past brings Ellison closer to a deadly demon (Photo: Sinister/Blumhouse Productions)The situation escalates when Ashley, under the demon’s control, films the brutal murders of her family, all while telling them they will be “famous again” after their deaths. Bughuul, one of the most terrifying movie demons, manipulates innocent children to kill their families, which is an especially horrifying twist.
The final images in Sinister are haunting. Ashley finds a box containing footage of all the previous families Bughuul has killed. She proceeds to draw what she did to her own family, and Bughuul takes her into the movie, making it clear that the terror isn’t over.
The film’s ending delivers a shocking blow, hinting that the next family who moves into the house will inevitably uncover these tapes, leading to their tragic end. What makes Sinister’s conclusion so effective is that it challenges the typical horror movie expectation.
Instead of a happy ending where the protagonist survives, the film goes for a brutal, dark twist that reinforces the inescapable grip of Bughuul. Rather than Ellison finding a way to save his family, Ashley ends up killing them all, which adds an extra layer of terror to the film.
It is a haunting conclusion that solidifies Sinister as one of the most unnerving horror films to date.
Where Can You Watch Sinister?
Horror lovers can watch Sinister on HBO Max, or they can rent it on DirecTV or Apple TV. Whether you’ve already seen the film and want to relive the terrifying experience or you’re watching it for the first time, Sinister offers a compelling story and deeply unsettling characters, making it one of the best-crafted horror films of the 2010s.
While Sinister 2 did not capture the same magic and was widely considered unnecessary, the original Sinister remains a standout in the genre and is worth revisiting, whether it’s your first time watching or your tenth.
