The Boogeyman: A Snooze-Fest Horror Adaptation

Unfortunately, despite the recent success of many high-profile horror projects, some major studios continue to release lackluster films, such as The Boogeyman. While the movie carries the name of renowned author Stephen King, it falls short of capturing the essence of his work, delivering an uninspired, formulaic plot.

The movie is supposedly based on King's classic short story originally published in 1973. The story follows a man named Lester Billings as he recounts his encounters with a malevolent supernatural force to his psychiatrist, Dr. Harper, claiming that the entity caused the deaths of his three children. The short story builds tension and culminates in a surprising twist ending, but unfortunately, the movie neglects this crucial aspect of the story, with only one scene acknowledging its significance.

However, The Boogeyman brings a fresh perspective to the story by introducing a new cast of characters, who unfortunately lack depth and intrigue. Dr. Harper (Chris Messina) still serves as the therapist, and even Lester Billings (David Dastmalchain) briefly appears, but the rest of the plot is entirely fictionalized. Despite this deviation, the monster hiding in the closet still remains a crucial element of the tale.

The plot of The Boogeyman is unfortunately minimal, and not in a way that benefits the overall story. It fails to differentiate itself from any other generic horror movie lacking the financial backing of Disney. The characters lack development and narrative drive, moving from one scene to the next without much purpose. Even the titular monster falls short as a typical ghoulie. The film attempts to raise the stakes from the opening scene, but ultimately falls short of creating any meaningful tension.

The Boogeyman is a film that manages to incorporate nearly every horror movie cliché imaginable. From a creepy child's drawing to a slowly opening closet door, from mean teenagers locking someone in a room with the monster to lights that refuse to turn on despite repeated attempts, the list goes on. The movie also utilizes the trope of trauma and grief as a means of anchoring the horror narrative, although it does little to serve the overall story. With all of this in mind, it's easy to understand why some have drawn comparisons to AI-generated content. However, it's worth noting that the film was indeed written by human screenwriters - Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, and Mark Heyman - all of whom have proven themselves capable of delivering stronger scripts in the past.

The standout elements of this film are undoubtedly the performances of Thatcher and Blair. It's interesting to note that both actors have previously appeared in Star Wars projects, with Thatcher in Book of Boba Fett and Blair as a young Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi. Blair brings a delightful personality to her portrayal of Sawyer without falling into the trap of being too precocious, while Thatcher authentically portrays a moody teenager dealing with the loss of her mother and navigating the usual high school drama.

Although his screen time is brief, Dastmalchain makes a lasting impact with his portrayal of a world-weary character filled with terror. Unfortunately, his character is quickly written out of the story. Messina's character, who is one of the central figures in the original short story, feels like an afterthought in the film. While Messina accurately portrays a man who is repressing his emotions, his performance falls somewhat flat in many of his scenes.

Director Rob Savage fails to elevate the material in The Boogeyman, a movie that lacks memorable setpieces and visual design. His point-and-shoot approach falls short of the creative work he accomplished in his pandemic horror Host. The flat color palette and uninspired visuals are a telltale sign that the movie was originally intended for streaming, rather than theatrical release. While it may be suitable for home viewing, it is not meant for the big screen.