Sinister 2 (2015); Teaser

The $3 million budget for Scott Derrickson’s Sinister was a small amount when compared to the nearly $80 million it made at the box office in 2012. That was, of course, more than enough for its production company to move forward with Sinister 2. However, Scott Derrickson is hard at work preparing for Marvel’s Doctor Strange, meaning that another director had to take over directing duties.

Ciaran Foy, who has previously directed the horror thriller Citadel, was picked to helm this time around, with Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill returning to write the script. Sinister‘s star, Ethan Hawke, will also not return for the sequel, instead being replaced by Shannyn Sossamon (A Knight’s Tale). Meanwhile, James Ransone’s standout character from the first film, a well-meaning cop nicknamed “Deputy So-and-So,” will be returning. Now, as a strange way to celebrate Father’s Day, an ominous new teaser has been released for Sinister 2.

Sinister 2 seems to pick up right where the first one left off, with Mr. Boogie, aka Bagul, continuing to terrorize innocent families and children. That’s not where the similarities end, though. Like Sinister, its sequel also seems to rely on jump-scares and other typical horror movie tropes to stun audiences, with a few occasional twists and turns along the way.

Like its predecessor, Sinister 2 also looks to be fairly grim and dark. Unlike some other horror movies that end with a resolution to the plot and a happy ending for everyone, Sinister went in an entirely different direction, which made the impact of the first film all the more powerful. The harsh and gruesome feel of Sinister 2 should therefore appeal to those who were fans of the original.

That said, if fans are looking for something new from Derrickson and Cargill, they may have to wait a while longer. Sinister 2 seems to recycle a lot of the same elements from the first film instead of taking the series in an entirely new direction. It’s possible that they’re saving the big surprises for the film itself, but at this point it’s best to remain cautiously optimistic.

What do you think? Are you looking forward to this sequel? Let us know in the comments.

Sinister 2 arrives in theaters on August 21, 2015.