Rating:
Summary: A by-the-books horror film that does the basics right, but it could have been more.
Rob Savage's "The Boogeyman" has the feel of a made-for-streaming movie, and that's because it was. This isn't to say it isn't a good film, but more of a commentary on the raised quality of streaming films these days and where it has become the go-to place for by-the-book movies. This film switched to a theatrical release after positive test screenings, and I can see why having watched the film in a theatrical setting. The jump scares benefitted greatly from the enhanced sound system, and the overall darkness (as in light output, not just in tone) benefitted from the superior theatre screen - in other words, it beats watching the film on your smartphone ... on the toilet.
The story is a simple one. Two daughters are still grieving over the loss of their mother, while their father has become distanced due to the same grief, leaving the whole family vulnerable when a stranger brings with him a dark presence into their home. What the film does with the storyline is also simple. In an age where we expect our horror films to be sometimes a comedy, sometimes sci-fi, and sometimes filled with political messaging, it's kind of refreshing to watch a classic by-the-books horror film, complete with jump scares, "don't go in there" moments, and a satisfying action-based conclusion. At least the audience who watched the press preview with me enjoyed it, even if they laughed out loud at some of the more cliched horror tropes on display (an unwise trip to the basement, a lighter that sparks in vain just when you need it to, for example).
"The Boogeyman" does the basics of your classic horror film very well, and that's to be commended, and that's probably why it got upgraded to a theatrical release. It's also the film's biggest problem - all the tropes are there and are far too familiar, including the most annoying one of all: people trying to save electricity at the wrong place, wrong time by not having all the lights on at all times (especially if you already knew that a monster lives in the dark). Just go and buy some LED globes, if you're worried about the bill.
And I can't but feel there were opportunities missed for the film to be just a little bit more clever. For example, the theme of the grieving father not paying enough attention to the needs of his children could have been explored further as both the cause and the solution to the family's problems. The monster in the film could also have been portrayed as an allegory of unresolved grief. And that light orb ... severely underused!
Sophie Thatcher, who plays the elder daughter Sadie, is the breakout star of the film - unsurprising to those who have seen her in Paramount+'s Yellowjackets, but the rest of the cast all do a commendable job, including a brief but memorable cameo by David Dastmalchian (Prisoners, The Suicide Squad).
Watch "The Boogeyman" in cinemas starting 1 June 2023. Streaming release date: 5 October, 2023 on Disney+. Subscribe to Disney+ for only $13.99 per month, or $139.99 per year (16% off).
