Movie Review - Boogeyman

Boogeyman

2005

Screen Gems / Ghost House Pictures / Senator International / Pacific Renaissance Pictures Ltd, : Screen Gems / United International Pictures

6.75 / 10

I've heard this film is the remake of the 1980's video nasty,, though it has a different, and better, storyline to boot.  So if you've let that put you off watching this film stop right now.

Here you have the story of Tim, (a hit and miss performance by Barry Watson) who suffers mental stress due to strange events in his childhood, where he believes the demon in the closet took his father.  When his mother passes he has to sell the family home, which his uncle is kindly refurbishing.

On the whole, this is an okay movie, though at the time of release I hated it.  My newfound acceptance could be due to the lack of good horror on offer today; or worst yet, I've grown accustomed to the bad elements of this style of horror film which today's directors use in overabundance - such as the swooping camera's and crescendo sounds to startle not scare.

The thing I loved most was the demon, though the director, Stephen Kay, should have left the CGI alone; it was mainly the essence of the demon I loved, thank you Eric Kripke who wrote the story and screenplay.  Being able to travel anywhere and to any time through the wardrobe gives the viewer the feeling of distortion and unease; this ability also gives the demon great power.  The thought of him also being able to take any shape, for Tim, it was the zombie model he used to have by his bedside, is chilling - what would he look like for you?

Though most of the camera work is used to create action I did like the creepy segment where Tim meets his old friend and neighbour Kate (played by Bones, oh sorry, Emily Deschanel).  This is a brilliantly filmed piece and flows so smoothly, in the age of shakey-cam I loved it.

Also, the appearance of Franny, played really well by Skye McCole Bartusaik, was a great hook in the story... a secondary person who had seen the Boogeyman.

There's quite a bit of story weaved into this hour and a half film, enough to keep you engaged, and if you like your horror to be at a break-neck pace then this should be right up your street.  This could have been so much better though.  There are times when Kay creates a spooky atmosphere, which is a great thing as the Boogeyman is about instilling fear into children.  This is the way the film should have progressed instead of going the action and assault route.

This is better than quite a few horror films around today so if it's on telly or cable then you could do worse than giving it a viewing.