Sinister 2
Sinister 2 is a supernatural horror film released in 2015, directed by Ciarán Foy and written by Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill—the creative minds behind the original Sinister (2012). As a direct sequel, it continues the terrifying story of the demon Bughuul, also known as the "Eater of Children," and the sinister influence he has over families through disturbing Super 8 films that document murders committed by children under his possession.
The film centers around Courtney Collins, a mother of twin boys, Dylan and Zach, who is on the run from her abusive husband. She hides out in a rural Illinois farmhouse, unaware that the property is cursed and tied directly to Bughuul’s legacy. The house, as it turns out, was the site of one of Bughuul’s previous child-led massacres. Dylan, the more sensitive and introverted of the two twins, is haunted by nightmares and drawn into Bughuul’s influence through ghostly children who coerce him into watching the snuff-like home movies of gruesome family murders.
Returning from the first film is the unnamed ex-deputy, now known as Ex-Deputy So & So, played by James Ransone. He has been investigating Bughuul’s pattern of possession and is determined to stop the demon’s cycle of killings by destroying the houses connected to each murder. When he discovers Courtney and her children hiding in one of the cursed homes, he takes it upon himself to protect them and end the chain of supernatural horror once and for all.
Unlike its predecessor, which relied heavily on slow-building tension and a strong atmosphere, Sinister 2 leans more into jump scares and graphic imagery. The film showcases a new batch of chilling "home videos" that are central to Bughuul’s mythology, including increasingly brutal and inventive murder scenarios. These include electrocution, being eaten alive by rats, and crucifixion—all shown as if filmed by the children who committed them under Bughuul’s influence. This grim found-footage element remains one of the most memorable aspects of the franchise.
Critically, Sinister 2 received mixed to negative reviews. Many critics felt that the sequel lacked the eerie originality of the first film and that the scares were more predictable. However, James Ransone’s performance as the determined, awkward ex-deputy was often praised, providing a relatable and human counterbalance to the supernatural horror. The film's themes of child abuse, trauma, and the vulnerability of innocence added emotional weight to an otherwise formulaic structure.
Bughuul, while still present, appears less mysterious and more exposed in this sequel. The effectiveness of his horror is somewhat diminished by overexposure and a deeper look into his methods. Still, the film attempts to expand his mythology by showing how he manipulates children and uses ghostly peers to groom them into killers, creating a disturbing supernatural cycle.
Despite its flaws, Sinister 2 maintains some of the unsettling atmosphere that made the original a standout in the horror genre. While it doesn’t reach the same critical acclaim, it offers fans of the first film a continuation of the chilling story and deeper insight into Bughuul’s terrifying world.
