There is nothing more horrifying than something lurking in the dark. To children, it’s a monster that is hiding under their beds. To adults, it’s the personal demons creeping into the darkest parts of their lives. To horror fans of all ages, it’s a Friday. Friday, June 2, to be exact, is when Stephen King’sThe Boogeymanis released in theaters.
This one is a little different from previous installments and adaptations of King’s novels.The Boogeymanwas part of a collection of short stories King wrote in the 1970s. The story is about a man named Lester Billings who talks to his psychiatrist Dr. Harper about a strange creature that has murdered his three children. Billings goes into detail about their deaths and how they all cried out “Boogeyman!” before being left alone in their rooms. When he finds their bodies, their closet doors are slightly ajar even though he is sure they are closed. At the end of the story, the Boogeyman reveals himself to be Dr. Harper.
A fascinating story, but not exactly enough content to produce a full-fledged film. Then comes 2023’sThe Boogeyman, which feels more like it takes inspiration from the story rather than a true adaptation. Still, the trailer and official pictures have shown how dark this movie will be.Dark and promising. Director Rob Savage is enthusiastic about the level of fright in his film. Is this film worthy of the hype behind it? We think that the excitement behind this movie is justified.
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Incredibly Terrifying
We have been frightened by King’s works in the past. Some fears are more personal, like losing your sanity, mourning a child, or bullying/abuse. Others are phobias like clowns, insects, or ghosts. The boogeyman itself is a universal fear that takes on many different forms.
It is typically depicted as a shadowy, androgynous ghost that hides in dark places (mostly closets) to scare unsuspecting victims. King adapted this creature in his 1973 short story of the same name as an attachment to one of his characters. For the film, however, director Rob Savage took a different approach to both the creature and its intentions. Achange that proved to be too scaryfor audiences.
The reveal scene of the monster had to be changed because the audience was downright terrified. This was to the point where any dialogue following the boogeyman’s reveal was drowned out by their screams. Worried that audiences would miss vital pieces of information, Savage had to recut that scene. Plus, he promises that this film is the most“viscerally scary” Stephen King adaptation. He even comparedThe BoogeymantoThe Shining, which is still King’s scariest movie adaptation to date (even if Stephen King himself doesn’t like it).
It Scared Stephen King Himself
While making this film, Savage was concerned that King wouldn’t like this project. Especially since King is vocal if he doesn’t like how a movie adapts his books, likeThe Shining, but it seems that Savage outdid himself withThe Boogeyman. During an event about the film, Savage stated that King had the best time watching it and that it “scared the sh** out of him”.
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King even wrote an essay for Savage about how much he enjoyed watching the movie. It’s enormous praise when a renowned horror author gets scared because of your work. However, he is not afraid to admit when something gets under his skin, like how he foundThe Babadook“deeply disturbing.” Savage explains that King’s genuine reaction was that of a “pinch me moment.”
The Boogeyman Is Not a Remake
Recent Stephen King films have been remakes of previous films, like both parts ofPet Semataryand both chapters ofIt. Some performed remarkably better than the originals, while othersreceived poor audience reviews. Of course, that is the risk when making a remake of anything, but that risk is more apparent in horror. How long has it been since we have had a Stephen King movie adaptation that wasn’t a remake or a sequel?The Boogeymantakes a more original take on King’s short story while fleshing out the monster that is every child’s nightmare.
Technically, a short film back in 1982 with the same title adapted King’s story. That film stayed true to its source and didn’t deviate from the story’s plot. The movie was directed by Jeff Schiro, a student filmmaker back then. Savage’sThe Boogeyman, however, stands alone as its production. It takes some hidden themes in the original story (like loss) and spins the movie’s plot around that. With the main characters being a high school girl and her younger sister, the loss of a mother makes the film all the more personal.
The boogeyman from King’s short story is a broad interpretation of fear and paranoia formed into a physical entity. In Savage’sThe Boogeyman,fear is more of an interpretation of grief. The fear of letting go and dealing with the pain of losing a loved one. Expresses what it means totruly face your demonsthat lurk in the dark. This film will be elevated horror at its finest, which can sometimes be scarier than your usual ghosts or monsters. It’s exciting to see how Stephen King’s mind works and how others interpret the scares.
