In our Halloween special, we dive into Sinister — the #1 scariest movie ever made, according to a scientific study that measured audience heart rates. We break down why this movie hits so hard psychologically, how its use of sound and visual dread creates a lasting sense of terror, and why it's considered one of the most effective horror films of all time. From the chilling Super 8 tapes to Baguul's eerie presence, we explore every detail that makes Sinister such a disturbing masterpiece.
Chapters:
00:00 How science proved this to be the scariest of all time
6:12 Crazy stories from on set
11:36 Ethan Hawke is so unlikable in this movie
24:30 The worst death in the movie
29:50 So you're telling me kids can pull these crimes off?
32:55 Horror movies mess too many kids up
36:56 Ethan Hawke was so close to a hit book
37:53 How good of a deal would it take to buy a murder house?
41:28 Breaking down the evil children's short films
49:43 Mr. Booger is pretty creative
51:47 The plot hole in the movie
54:11 They filmed Ethan Hawke's genuine reaction to the tapes
56:25 Back to Ethan Hawke being a terrible father
1:02:58 Our official rating & final thoughts
1:15:02 Cue the music
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!