Dark hallways, haunted film reels, and an ancient deity of terror — Sinister (2012) is a slow-burn horror classic that left audiences chilled to the bone. Starring Ethan Hawke as a true crime writer who finds more than he bargained for in a new home, the film blends psychological horror with supernatural dread in a uniquely unsettling way.
But how well do you remember the snuff films, the chilling projector scenes, and the demon known as Bughuul? Test your horror movie instincts with this 10-question trivia quiz — if you dare.
Sinister (2012) Trivia Questions & Answers
- Who plays the lead role of true crime writer Ellison Oswalt?
Correct Answer: Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke stars as Ellison Oswalt, a once-successful true crime writer desperate for another hit. His performance grounds the supernatural story in emotional realism, as he slowly descends into paranoia while investigating the mysterious films.
- What kind of film does Ellison find in the attic?
Correct Answer: Super 8 home movies
In the attic of his new home, Ellison discovers a box of unmarked Super 8 film reels. These disturbing “home movies” depict various families being murdered in different horrific ways, sparking his investigation into a terrifying pattern.
- What is the name of the supernatural entity in the film?
Correct Answer: Bughuul
Bughuul, also known as the “Eater of Children,” is a pagan deity who uses images and recorded media to lure and possess children, ultimately causing them to murder their families. His terrifying design and slow, subtle appearances throughout the film make him especially unsettling.
- What is the profession of Ellison Oswalt?
Correct Answer: True crime author
Ellison is a true crime writer who has fallen from fame. Hoping to reignite his career, he moves his family into the house where a recent unsolved murder occurred — a decision that leads to tragic consequences.
- What do all the home movies found by Ellison have in common?
Correct Answer: They show families being murdered
Each film depicts the ritualistic murder of a family — all filmed with chilling calmness and creative brutality. These reels serve as both narrative puzzle pieces and some of the film’s most haunting moments.
- What unusual thing do the children in the films do?
Correct Answer: They disappear after the murders
In each case, one child from the murdered family is unaccounted for after the crime. These children are later revealed to have committed the killings under Bughuul’s influence and to have vanished into his dark realm.
- What does Bughuul supposedly do with the souls of the children?
Correct Answer: Consumes them
According to the mythos uncovered by Ellison and a helpful professor, Bughuul consumes the souls of the children after luring them into his world. His goal is eternal spiritual sustenance, fed by corrupted innocence.
- What warning does the deputy give Ellison?
Correct Answer: All the families lived in the same house before
Deputy “So-and-So” warns Ellison that all the murdered families had lived in the same house as the previous victims — forming a supernatural chain. By moving into one of these houses, Ellison unknowingly places his own family next in line.
- What ultimately happens to Ellison and his family?
Correct Answer: They are murdered like the others
After realizing the danger and moving out, Ellison believes he’s broken the cycle. But the curse continues: moving out is actually the final step in triggering the next murder. His daughter, now possessed by Bughuul, kills the family and records it on film.
- What is the final image shown in the last home movie?
Correct Answer: Bughuul pulling a child into the film
The ending delivers one final jolt: after the murder, Bughuul appears in the frame and literally pulls the possessed child into the home movie screen. It’s a symbolic and literal representation of his power to trap souls in media, closing the film on a note of helpless horror.
