'Scariest movie ever' that leaves 'a lasting scare' streaming for free

A highly-rated horror movie that fans claim leaves 'a lasting scare' is streaming for free - just in time for spooky season.

Released in 2012, Sinister is now available to watch on streaming platform Tubi. It stars four-time Academy Award nominee Ethan Hawke as struggling true-crime author Ellison Oswalt. Desperate to write a bestseller, Ellison secretly moves his family into a house that had been the location of a gruesome murder for research.

But when he stumbles upon disturbing film footage that reveals a supernatural presence in the home, the author is forced to face a sinister threat. The mystery thriller was directed by Scott Derrickson, who horror fans will know for helming The Black Phone films. Derrickson also served as a writer, alongside C. Robert Cargill.

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Hawke stars alongside Juliet Rylance, who plays his on-screen wife Tracy. They are joined by Michael Hall D'Addario and Clare Foley.

The cast also features The Good Wife actor Fred Thompson and It: Chapter Two star James Ransone.

Sinister received mixed reviews upon its premiere.

It bagged a 64 per cent Rotten Tomatoes score, where the critics' consensus reads: "Its plot hinges on typically implausible horror-movie behaviour and recycles countless genre clichés, but Sinister delivers a surprising number of fresh, diabolical twists."

While critics were not completely won over by the film, it left a lasting impression on casual moviegoers.

One five-star reviewer wrote: "Absolutely horrifying! I have never been so scared watching a movie before. Has to be the most disturbing film I have ever seen."

Meanwhile, a second said: "This is hands down one of the scariest movies I've ever seen. It gave me the same nightmarish feelings as the original Nightmare on Elm Street. Worth a watch."

Someone else echoed the praise, claiming that the horror causes "a visceral reaction, lodges into your subconscious for days on end and leave a lasting scare".

A fourth fan chimed in with: "A strong cast, an intriguing mystery and an awesome villain. Sinister is an iconic and well constructed horror movie with some interesting twists that keeps the audience guessing… and has truly terrifying moments."

Sinister is streaming now on Tubi