Retro Film Review: Boogeyman (2005)

(source: tmdb.org)

In the not-so-distant past, horror films used to either scare or, at the very least, excite audiences. This concept seems to elude most modern Hollywood executives. Boogeyman, a 2005 film directed by Stephen M. Kay, seems to strive to alter this current state of affairs.

The main character in the movie is Tim (portrayed by Barry Watson), a young man who, in his childhood, witnessed his father being consumed by a mysterious dark force lurking in the closet. After fifteen years and numerous visits to child psychiatric facilities, he convinced himself and others that his father had simply abandoned the family, leaving young Tim to seek solace in his own childish imagination. Nonetheless, Tim still harbours an irrational fear of closets and darkness. When his mother (played by Lucy Lawless) passes away, he returns to his childhood home where he must confront his inner demons.

The creators of Boogeyman put forth minimal effort towards originality. The fundamental premise, along with the opening sequence, appears to be "borrowed" from Darkness Falls. The trio of screenwriters - Eric Kripke, Juliet Snowden, and Stilles White - filled the remainder of the film with elements drawn from various recent horror movies, incorporating ghosts and teleportation. Despite this peculiar mix, the film manages to present a somewhat cohesive plot, and director Stephen M. Kay endeavours to genuinely frighten the audience. His endeavours are largely successful, notwithstanding the rapid MTV-style editing, excessive zooming, and the miscasting of Barry Watson in the lead role. The letdown for viewers occurs towards the conclusion - the monster is unveiled in a poorly executed CGI shot, leading to one of the most bewildering and unsatisfying endings in recent Hollywood memory. Nevertheless, it could be argued that this abrupt and unexpected conclusion actually works in the film's favour by masking the lack of creativity from the creators. Few films have benefitted as much from brevity as this one.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

(Note: Original version of the review is available here.)