‘The Boogeyman’ Film Review
Some might say this is a familiar story, but Beck and Woods, and Rob Savage have made it their own by making it smart. It’s an intelligent horror film that operates on a psychological as well as primitive level.
The Boogeyman is a paean to things that go bump in the night. The Rob Savage (Host, Dashcam) directed horror thriller doesn’t just go for cheap jump scares but builds terror on a visceral level, tapping into our childhood fears of what lurks in the dark.
This isn’t the first adaptation of Stephen King’s short story. There are 2010 and 2014 feature film versions that were scary in their own right. This version has the talents of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place, 65) behind the words. They are aces at slowly building tension by capitalizing off of darkness and silence.
Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair) Harper are sisters still trying to come to grips with their mother’s death. Sadie has gone so far as watching YouTube videos with mediums giving advice about how to reach the dead. One soothsayer suggests calling on the spirit and having them prove their existence by making the light of a candle move to the left. Throughout the film, she’s constantly testing this out. Their dad Will (Chris Messina), a therapist, is trying to get on with life and take care of the girls, but he doesn’t have a lot of time for them. After a strange man, Lester (David Dastmalchian) visits him, then kills himself in one of their rooms, a dark presence seems to enter their home.
Sawyer has to deal with her ever-present fear of the dark, because now there is actually a monster in the closet. Sadie is shaken from her doldrums over her mother and forced to fight for herself and her family. Her character tends to do the things that most characters do in horror films – walk towards the danger. Whereas little sis Sawyer does the opposite. She’s always suspected something sinister hides in the dark, so she’s been emotionally ready to deal with it.
The jump scares in this movie are generated from genuinely scary moments, tied to the core premise of the story. One of the most eerie scenes is when Sawyer and Sadie are at Dr. Weller’s (LisaGay Hamilton) office and she’s trying to make Sawyer face her fears. The use of light/dark dichotomy and silence plays on Sawyer’s and our imaginations.
Toward the end, the movie starts to feel a tad bit rushed. However, the denouement is satisfying and emotionally charged.
Sophie Thatcher is believable as an angsty teen, though she’s actually 23. She never veers off into the territory of annoying teen and manages to artfully juggle the range of emotions she’s supposed to be feeling. Vivien Lyra Blair is a delight, adorable and tough. Chris Messina is solid as the dad, though his character’s actions are a lot more predictable than his daughters’.
Once David Dastmalchian enters as Lester, the tone of the film changes. It becomes a horror tale buttressed by a mystery, one that takes Sawyer on a journey of self-awareness.
Some might say this is a familiar story, but Beck and Woods, and Rob Savage have made it their own by making it smart. It’s an intelligent horror film that operates on a psychological as well as primitive level.
Patrick Jonsson’s score is diabolical in all the right places. It ebbs and flows perfectly with the subliminal fear of the darkness and the creature created for the Harpers.
This 20th Century Studios release hits theaters on June 2, 2023, and is the kind of movie made to be seen in a theater. Not only does the movie have noteworthy effects that should be seen on a big screen, but it also appeals to a collective response, like Paranormal Activity and The Conjuring do.
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Sonya Alexander started off her career training to be a talent agent. She eventually realized she was meant to be on the creative end and has been writing ever since. As a freelance writer she’s written screenplays, covered film, television, music and video games and done academic writing. She’s also been a script reader for over twenty years. She's a member of the African American Film Critics Association and currently resides in Los Angeles.
