High school student Sadie Harper and her younger sister, Sawyer, are still reeling from the recent death of their mother. They're not getting much support from their father, Will, a therapist who's dealing with his own intense pain. When a desperate patient unexpectedly shows up at their house seeking help, he leaves behind a terrifying supernatural entity that preys on families and feeds on the suffering of its victims.
Director: Rob Savage
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, David Dastmalchian, LisaGay Hamilton, Marin Ireland, Madison Hu
Release Date: June 2, 2023
Genre: Horror, Mystery,Thriller
Rated PG-13 for terror, violent content, teen drug use and some strong language
Runtime: 1h 38m
The Boogeyman is a solidly crafted, well acted horror film which never takes full advantage of either by leaning too much on old school tropes. Rob Savage's direction is more than capable of establishing mood and setting up scares throughout. Those looking for a direct adaptation of King's original short story will likely be disappointed since the film only uses a small bit of it as a jumping off point before turning into a fairly predictable monster film that's been done plenty of times beforehand. It's a shame since the original story was effectively unnerving and delivered a memorable ending that would have made this film something special. Instead, the script uses increasingly predictable tropes and beats ultimately wasting a pair of strong performances from Sophie Thatcher and Vivien Lyra Blair. Thatcher's turn in particular is deeply committed that you just wish she had better material to work with. The Boogeyman isn't a terrible film by any stretch of the imagination but its definitely a forgettable experience that never lives up to its potential.
C+
