Stephen King is one of my favorite writers. An architect of horror, and a name synonymous with the genre.
Rob Savage is a rising filmmaker I am keeping a watchful eye on. His 2020 debut “Host” is one of my favorite horror films.
Both names are what drew me to “The Boogeyman”.
The 2023 film was directed by Savage and based off King’s short story from 1973. It’s rated PG-13, which was my first clue the potential would be watered down. Savage shows he can deliver excellent scares, but numerous pitfalls hamstring the overall production.
The Boogeyman
We follow the Harper family; dad Will (Chris Messina), teen daughter Sadie (Sophie Thatcher), and ten-year-old Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair). Will is a therapist, and he and his daughters are still reeling from the tragic death of his wife and their mother several months before the events of the story take place.
A disheveled patient enters Will’s office and reveals that an evil entity killed his family and now plagues him. Said patient has now brought the demonic force (i.e. the titular boogeyman) into the Harper’s home.
Monsters plague Sawyer in her room at night, but Will chalks the terror up to grief. Sophie isolates herself from her friends and father but quickly helps her little sister.
Good Performance
Vivien Lyra Blair is good for a child actor and Chris Messina is capable as the dad. The real star of the film is Sophie Thatcher.
Playing a sullen teen is challenging. There’s a balance between plausible and cartoonish, and Sophie Thatcher excels. She has a refreshing, modern style with a bohemian twist that I liked. Thatcher has the chops to handle horror, no matter how sloppy the production is.
Rob Savage
I loved “Host” and am looking forward to “Other Mommy” when it drops next month.
Several scenes here are excellent. One facet I loved is a rolling nightlight that Sawyer uses to investigate the darkness. It’s a perfect vessel for terror.
The scene in a therapist’s office is also outstanding. The doc is working with Sawyer’s fear of the dark and it’s done in such a way that builds perfect tension without a tawdry jump scare.
Standard studio-backed yawns fill the rest of the 99-minute film. Eyes glowing from the shadows are perfect. A CGI boogeyman is garbage.
And the score.
Oh my God I hated the score. I don’t understand whose decision is it to include stabbing musical notes or corny “aren’t-you-scared” rhythms over every scene. I would love to wash out the music and let the atmosphere breathe.
There is a brief easter egg to “Host” which I did enjoy.
I don’t love all of Stephen King’s stories and I won’t love all of Rob Savage’s films. “The Boogeyman” is one of those typical movies that isn’t memorable. The studio created a PG-13 soft modern piece for cheap profits and quickly forgotten results
