Boogeyman (PG-13, 2005)

common sense media says

A bloated 86 minutes of overzealous spookiness.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie tries everything possible to be a scary horror movie but retain its PG-13 rating. Family members disappear violently, animals panic, children are strange, corpses lunge, lights frequently go out for no reason, there is an aural assault of haunting sounds, and no one believes the main character. A character watches as loved ones are tossed around and then taken from him, a child is shut in a closet as a cure for being scared, another child is separated from her family. There are references to sex and a character is naked (non-explicit). Characters drink to drunkenness at a party and there are references to drinking, as well as a jarring product placement.

Positive messages: Not applicable.
Violence: Near constant peril, reference to child abandonment, children threatened, adults abducted violently, death or disappearance of several characters, creepy dream/imagined sequences, supernatural threats.
Sex: Sexual references, brief nudity, non-explicit bathtub scene.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Characters drink to celebrate and to escape; references to drunkenness.

More on Boogeyman

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the legend of the boogeyman, who appears in many cultures as a warning to misbehaving children. The psychologist discusses how children might turn to supernatural explanations as a coping mechanism for feelings of loss or powerlessness. How do modern stories use scary characters or the supernatural to guide behavior now? Urban legends often have an element of the supernatural, how might they derive from older tales, like those of the boogeyman?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Eight-year-old Tim Jenson is scarred for his life before BOOGEYMAN'S title sequence rolls. He went to bed one night jumping at shadows in his rural, gothic home and watched in horror as his closet violently swallowed his father. Fast-forward 15 years and Tim (Barry Watson), now a twitchy lygophobic with a tendency to stand staring at dark closets, returns home for a funeral. He alone sees that all dark places -- under the bed, in the closet, behind the pantry door -- are potential lurking spots for the boogeyman. At the off-hand recommendation of his psychologist and to further the plot, he must face his childhood fears, including that of his supernatural closet.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
With a storyline thinner than the protagonist's stereotyped rich girlfriend and enough lead-heavy dialogue to sink a movie of twice the caliber, BOOGEYMAN is a bloated 86 minutes of overzealous spookiness, to be admired primarily by aspiring sound-effects specialists. The movie cuts to the chase quickly but then wallows in atmospherics. Lengthy scenes reveal nothing more than predictable, two-dimensional characters. Ominous portent is constant. The creaking house, unnerving close-ups, quick cuts, and flickering lights might make some viewers seasick and others wish they could TiVo to the final confrontation.

 

Touches of humor, some genuinely spooky moments, and the occasional flash of decent acting keep this movie a notch above straight-to-video caliber. Watching Tim at the child counseling center offers a hint that this movie could be richer, more interesting fare, but then the next scene -- a possible boogeyman lurking behind a ceiling tile -- tugs us back to the over-the-top forcedness of it all.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Stephen Kay
Cast: Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Skye McCole Bartusiak
Genre: Horror
Run time: 86 minutes
Theatrical release: February 4, 2005
DVD release: May 31, 2005
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: intense sequences of horror and terror/violence, and some partial nudity

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

Doodelium
kid, 13 years old
 
Fine but you should watch a lot of others before this
I just saw this movie, it was scary but it was not good. The beginning of the movie was very well done but then it just got dumb. The movie was kind of like a 30 minute episode of the haunting on tv spread out to fit a whole movie. There were some creepy parts but one missed call was better.

 
Truly scary, one of the better horror movies!
Okay. First up, this is definatley a 16+ movie. There is no lnaguage at all, it is extremeley scary, there is a bondage scene where a guy gets mummified in saran wrap and dies of loss of air from the wrap over his mouth (HE is sexually excited and the guy is really wrapped so he enjoyed it!) and there is violence!

HunterJumper13
teen, 15 years old
 
It was okay. Kind of boring, and not scary, but entertaining and humerous.

 
Enjoyable Movie with an expected ending!
First i would like to say its about time they made a movie on this.Minor Gore with some blood. Keep away from little 6-8 year olds for some parts might frighten to much. Lauguage was not an issue. The story keeps you watching as the main character tries to understand if his disturbing chilhood memories are real or not.The ending doesnt leave you with many questions but is far to predictable to recieve 5 stars.

Plague
parent
 
Boogeyman
Ultimately boring. CSM should add a "why did this movie ever manage to spawn its exsistance" concern button.

Meow314159
teen, 15 years old
 
UNINTENTIONALLY FUNNY
I completely agree with the review below me. When I saw this movie I wanted to hit myself in the head with a lamp. It was so lame that it was almost funny. I laughed so much at the bad acting that it could almost be a comedy. This movie is so lame that I can't describe it in words. I am actually pretty angry that people would actually watch this. I could definitely make a scarier movie if you gave me a video camera and a rubber ducky. Seriously, no joke. The acting would be better too.

 
i almost fell asleep
Not scary if you like scary movies other then some cheap "jumpy" moments. I almost fell asleep. The plot was completley unrealistic. Don't waste your time.

TheAmericanLow
teen, 15 years old
 
Terrible
This is an awful movie. Its also unintentionally funny. This movie is NOT remotely scary. Barely violent as well. Very little cursing, no nudity or anything. This might scare little kids who have no sense of what a "plot" or "remote realism" is. Awful, not graphic movie.

 
it was boring
this movie was not all that scary only a few momments did it get exciting but other than that it was not all that good. even little kids barely screamed inthis movie

 
HAD my eyes covered!!! LOL
WOW can you say keep the lights on for this one!!!! LOL I would not rate this only pg-13 but not go as far as r maybe like a pg-15 LOL I definately dont think my 11 year old could have watched it at all!! It will be quite a few years before he sees this one!! But it was a good scary one!!

 
i really liked it!
i dont know why it only got 1 star, i thought it was good! it was creepy and suspenseful. the ending was kinda dumb, though.

EmilyB123
teen, 15 years old
 
HORRIBLE MOVIE
two words; terrible movie. The special effects were very bad and instead of being scary it was actually pretty funny. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one

coolpup
kid, 13 years old
 
great move
i like this move as it was the first horror i saw i like how it is very scary and that it makes me want to sleep with the lights on i recomend it for teens but for no one under 13

j97tv
teen, 17 years old
 
Boogeyman Review
Rating: IFFY 11+ for horror violence, sexual references, mild language, and some drinking

 
stupid but ok also
this is a scary movie but had no plot and a lame ending this was just like non-stop voilence with absolutely no story the whole movie i spent time covering my 11 year old's eyes

 
Not bad
As horror flicks go, this one's worth watching.

 
Blech!
Hated this. If you go into the special features on the DVD and click on alt. ending. At the end of it you see cardboard on the wall behind the window. You see a cable attached to his head. Retch Retch Terrible ending on both parts Don't rent it,buy it or WATCH IT! Don't, you will thank me!

 
ok
this is an ok movie i have seen better endings but it's preety scary -12 caution

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