The head of Blumhouse, Jason Blum, recalls firing “a whole bunch of people” after filming a scene for Sinister went totally wrong. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the horror movie follows Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), who discovers a collection of mysterious Super 8 videos, revealing past murders and the supernatural presence known as Mr. Boogie. Since being released in 2012, Sinister has left an impression on audiences and is often considered one of the scariest films ever made. Along with Hawke, the cast includes Juliet Rylance, Clare Foley, Fred Thompson, James Ransone, and Nicholas King.
In a recent video shared by Blumhouse, Hot Ones host Sean Evans questioned Blum about the potential difficulty of making films. The CEO answered by revealing that while shooting a scene from Sinister, which involved hanging bodies, there was a costly mishap. Read his comments and check out the video below, at around 15:00:
There are a few. Sinister stands out. Scott Derrickson’s first movie with us. Remember it opened with the family hanging in that horrible, haunting shot. Well, the guy who, the effects guy who was doing that, did not do it right and one of the people got hurt pretty badly, and we had to shut the movie down, and we had to stop for three days and fire a whole bunch of people and start over. That was really hard.
On-Set Safety Is An Important Part Of Filming
Ensuring the safety of everyone involved is an important part of making movies, especially those associated with well-known companies such as Blumhouse. As Blum revealed in the video, a production process can be hindered by non-union films. Protection against dangerous conditions or haphazard decision-making is necessary, and based on Blum’s comments, having served as a producer on Sinister, he took that seriously. Replacing crew members and potentially spending more money on shooting after an injury occurred was the correct move.
There are many unsettling moments in Sinister, but the scene that Blum discussed appears immediately as the film begins, when Super 8 footage shows a family of four with sacks over their heads as they are slowly hanged. Because the bodies move, demonstrating their brief struggle, using dummies likely would not have been as effective. However, if handled the wrong way, whether the issue was with harnessing stunt performers or something else, it isn't hard to imagine the possible danger in filming.
Despite The Production Mishap, That Opening Scene Sets The Tone
While Blum revealed the number of days Sinister was set back, it is worth wondering how much this mishap affected the overall production budget. Nevertheless, that opening scene manages to perfectly set the tone for Derrickson’s movie, revealing what happened to the home before Ellison moved in and giving audiences a sample of what would come with additional footage. Blum’s comments about his former experiences indicate that what happened on Sinister was a rare occurrence, and that he continues to ensure safety on set.
Source: Blumhouse
Sinister is a supernatural horror movie that centers around a washed-up true-crime writer named Ellison Oswalt, who finds a box of Super 8 home movies that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose macabre work dates back to the 1960s. As he begins to write a biography about the case, terrifying images start to seep into his consciousness, making him question reality as the horrors of old are made new again.
Director Scott Derrickson
Release Date October 12, 2012
Studio(s) Lionsgate
Distributor(s) Lionsgate
Writers Scott Derrickson , C. Robert Cargill
Runtime 110 minutes
Franchise(s) Sinister
Budget $3 million
English (US) ·