'Sinister' Trailer: Ethan Hawke Brings the Thrills for Halloween (Video)

Horror movie fans are in for a real treat this Halloween from the producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious and the writer/director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose. The trailer of Scott Derrickson’s newest film, Sinister, was released today and will be bringing the thrills to theaters on October 5.

our editor recommends

CineEurope Adds Ethan Hawke Horror Film 'Sinister' to Indie Lineup

'Paranormal Activity' Team Sets Latino-Themed Horror Offshoot at Paramount (Exclusive)

Horror Hit 'Insidious' to Get Sequel

The film stars Ethan Hawke as a crime novelist father who moves into a not-so-pleasant but affordable house with his family.

The trailer begins with the family moving into the house of a family who was murdered nine months ago. Hawke's character, Ellison, explains to his family that he’s going to write, “the best book anybody’s ever read” while at the house. Viewers know as soon as he says, “I got a really good feeling about this,” that something must go wrong.

STORY: CineEurope Adds Ethan Hawke Horror Film 'Sinister' to Indie Lineup

Ellison finds old footage in the attic (perhaps playing homage to movies such as The Ring) of the previous families and their murders. After bringing the film to the police and consulting with Professor Jonas, played by Vincent D’Onofrio, he learns that the one thing that connects the videos together is a symbol: the pagan deity who consumes the souls of human children. This isn’t very good news for Ellison, who is the father of two children.

Ellison finds the diety, Bagul, in photographs and footage, and learns from Jonas that it is said Bagul lives in the pictures and they may be gateways into his realm. Jonas adds that children exposed to these images are particularly vulnerable to Bagul’s abductions. Naturally, the daughter Ashley (Clare Foley) views the images and all hell breaks loose.

Ashley starts painting pictures of the previously murdered girl Stephanie (Victoria Leigh) proving that little girls in horror movies make the movie all the more terrifying.

STORY: 'Paranormal Activity' Team Sets Latino-Themed Horror Offshoot at Paramount (Exclusive)

Then of course, Ashley is found in a box and appears contorted and screaming, Exorcist-style.

Ellison then burns the footage after finding Bagul’s symbols throughout the house, and tells his wife Tracy (Juliet Rylance) to get the kids and pack the car so they can make their escape. That probably doesn’t work out as planned.

The trailer ends with a montage of scary clips such as paintings of children and Bagul on the wall, an ax being dragged, people running, and children sitting on the floor, faces painted as the deity, watching a projection of the movie’s villain. Bagul then pops out in typical horror-movie fashion, scaring Ellison and the audience.

With the tagline “Once you see him, nothing can save you,” Sinister should bring screams this Halloween.

Watch the teaser trailer above.