Rob Savage has shown his ability to surpass "The Boogeyman," a horror film that falls flat emotionally and fails to make PG-13 horror genuinely scary. Savage's previous works, "Host" and "Dashcam," were innovative and provocative, pushing the horror genre forward. However, "The Boogeyman" lacks originality and feels like a generic horror film, lacking personality and innovation.
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The film boasts that it is based on a story from Stephen King's mind, but the adaptation fails to capture it’s essence. The writers, Scott Beck, Bryan Woods, and Mark Heyman, expand Boogeyman's significance to incorporate themes of loss and fear. However, the execution feels forced and lacks subtlety.
Savage attempts to blend a seance concept with the conventions of PG-13 horror from a decade ago. This results in a film that is both soft and heavy-handed. The reliance on jump scares and the exploration of grief through a therapist father, Dr. Will Harper (played by Chris Messina), and his daughters, Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair), feels contrived. The family is still mourning the death of their mother in a car accident a year ago. The grief permeates the atmosphere of their home.
The film creates a somber tone and relies on dark visuals to convey sorrow. However, it lacks the emotional depth to truly connect with the audience. We feel pity for the sisters, particularly Sadie, who delivers an excellent performance. But, the film fails to elicit genuine sorrow. Instead, we are left with a dreary atmosphere that makes the film feel longer than it actually is.
The Boogeyman enters the Harper family's home through the character of Lester, portrayed by David Dastmalchian. Lester shares a horrifying tale about the death of his children and the monster that haunts him before hanging himself in the mother's art closet. This act unleashes a monster upon the family. Lester's suicide becomes another death in the Harper's world. And, it further isolates Sadie and Sawyer, leaving them vulnerable to the terror that lurks in the dark.
Savage's strengths in using negative space and unique points of view are evident in previous works but are underutilized in "The Boogeyman." The film relies on formulaic scares, utilizing sound mixing, false alarms, and placing the children in danger. While these tactics create a sense of unease, they fail to truly scare the audience. The sparing use of light and sound is the film's most inventive aspect, such as when Sawyer rolls her light ball down the hallway, hoping to avoid what awaits her.
Despite its modern setting, the film neglects the potential of technology to enhance the story. The script fails to explore the practicality of using a cell phone flashlight to combat the Boogeyman or to develop more intelligent and creative storytelling. As the film progresses, the terror of the monster loses its impact, and the missed opportunities become more evident. It is reminiscent of Stephen King's "It," where Pennywise is much more frightening as a distant clown rather than a close-up giant spider. "The Boogeyman" feels outdated and in need of a modern update.
In conclusion, while Rob Savage has proven his ability to create innovative horror films, "The Boogeyman" falls short. It lacks originality, emotional depth, and fails to capitalize on its potential. The film relies on generic scares and fails to take advantage of modern technology to enhance the story. Overall, "The Boogeyman" feels like a missed opportunity to create a truly terrifying and groundbreaking horror experience.
