The Harper family has been through a lot lately. They’re still reeling from the sudden death of their beloved matriarch in a tragic car crash. Each member of the family copes in their own way, but they’re all struggling to find their footing again.
Sawyer, one of the sisters, is plagued by haunting nightmares that leave her frightened and restless. Their father, Will, tries to bury himself in work, hoping to distract himself from the pain. Meanwhile, Sadie, the other sister, is facing her own battles at school. Her once-close friend, Bethany, has joined a new clique that treats Sadie with disdain, making her feel isolated and rejected.
Just when they think things couldn’t get any stranger, a mysterious man named Lester Billings pays a visit to Will. Lester shares a chilling tale about his own children being killed one by one by some malevolent entity. He believes this creature has now latched onto him. Will, skeptical of Lester’s claims, leaves him alone momentarily to call the police. But in that brief moment, Lester slips away and Sadie makes a shocking discovery—she finds Lester’s lifeless body hanging in her mother’s art closet.
The family is understandably disturbed by Lester’s death, but they try to get back to their normal routine. However, strange things start happening around the house. Sadie notices an odd mold growing in various spots, while Sawyer catches glimpses of a mysterious creature lurking under her bed. She tries to warn Sadie, but her sister can’t find any evidence of the creature and dismisses her concerns.
In an attempt to deal with their grief, the girls visit their therapist, Dr. Weller, to talk about their mother’s passing. Dr. Weller uses a flashing light technique to help Sawyer overcome her fear of the dark. However, during the session, Sawyer spots the creature once again and becomes so frightened that she wets herself. The terrifying encounters continue, with the creature relentlessly tormenting Sawyer and Sadie also catching fleeting glimpses of it. They start to suspect that there’s a connection between the creature and Lester’s suicide.
Driven by curiosity and a desire to unravel the mystery, Sadie digs deeper. She listens to a recording of Lester’s session with their father and conducts online research on the Billings family. Her investigation leads her to the seemingly abandoned home of Lester’s estranged wife, Rita. Inside, Sadie discovers Rita, who reveals the creature’s true identity—it’s known as “The Boogeyman.” According to Rita, this entity feeds off fear and takes pleasure in toying with its victims. She explains that light is the only thing that can repel it. However, things take a twisted turn when Rita appears to see the Boogeyman behind Sadie and shoots at it, causing Sadie to flee in a state of distress.
As the days pass, the mold continues to spread throughout the house, and the family’s encounters with the Boogeyman escalate. Sadie begins having nightmares of the creature forcing something down her throat. Amidst the chaos, Sadie and Will attempt to have a heart-to-heart conversation about their loss, with Sadie convincing her father not to clear out her mother’s art cabinet. In a surprising twist, Sadie encounters what appears to be the spirit of her mother in the basement, guiding her with the flame of an old lighter.
At school, Bethany reaches out to comfort Sadie and organizes a girls’ night at the Harper house to lift her spirits. But during the gathering, a cruel prank leads to Sadie being locked in the art closet. It’s there that she comes face to face with the Boogeyman. Chaos erupts among the girls, and they all flee from Sadie’s house in fear. Meanwhile, Sawyer becomes the creature’s next target and suffers a brutal attack, resulting in her hospitalization.
In the hospital, Sadie receives a message from Rita, who claims to have devised a plan to kill the Boogeyman. Intrigued, Sadie meets Rita at her house, where she sets up a trap using shotgun shells. However, Sadie soon realizes that Rita intends to use her as bait for the creature. As the Boogeyman falls into the trap and survives, it brutally kills Rita instead. Sadie manages to escape and runs from the house.
In a frantic phone call, Will asks Sadie where she is, but she suddenly realizes that they’re already back home. The Boogeyman has attacked and taken Will and Sawyer inside the house. Determined to save her family, Sadie finds a terrified Sawyer hiding and claiming that the creature took their father into the basement.
Together, the sisters venture into the basement, only to find the Boogeyman feeding off Will’s fear. They musters all their courage and fight back, initiating a desperate chase through the dark depths. With the guidance of Sawyer and their mother’s spirit, Sadie manages to set the creature ablaze, seemingly destroying it and eradicating the mold that plagued their home.
Some time later, the Harper family attends a group session with Dr. Weller, indicating that they have moved forward from their traumatic experience. As they leave the office, Sadie is unexpectedly called back by Dr. Weller. Suspicious, she looks at him with caution and closes the closet door, uncertain of what lies beyond.
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The Boogeyman is a film that may feel familiar to many. It encompasses elements of mystery, horror, and occasional thrills. It has the allure of an enticing trailer that draws audiences to the cinema, only for them to leave questioning whether their hard-earned money could have been better spent elsewhere.
To its credit, The Boogeyman does manage to entertain to a certain extent. It engages viewers in a guessing game, allowing them to piece together elements of the plot while they sip on their beverages amidst the crackle of popcorn. However, this engagement is short-lived, and soon enough, the realization sets in that it is merely another "scary" film destined to be briefly discussed by young adults the following morning.
The performances, cinematography, and direction in The Boogeyman are commendable, surpassing the realm of C-grade filmmaking. Yet, the overall script and concept fall victim to the repetitive nature of stories that are churned out numerous times each year.
Seasoned horror enthusiasts may find little to revel in when it comes to The Boogeyman. However, those seeking a few jump-scares may find solace in its gradually deepening narrative.
In conclusion, The Boogeyman has its merits and is worth a watch. Yet, I would caution anyone contemplating a trip to the theater to pause, reconsider, and opt to wait until it becomes available for free viewing elsewhere.
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