 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Boogeyman
- Review Date: May 29, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Horror
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
A bloated 86 minutes of overzealous spookiness.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
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.
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?
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.
What families can talk about
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?
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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!
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AGE
It was okay. Kind of boring, and not scary, but entertaining and humerous.
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AGE
Boogeyman
Ultimately boring. CSM should add a "why did this movie ever manage to spawn its exsistance" concern button.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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.
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AGE
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
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Stephen Kay |
| Cast: | Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Skye McCole Bartusiak |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 86 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 4, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | May 31, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of horror and terror/violence, and some partial nudity |
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