The Boogeyman is a horror icon. It’s a supernatural being that lurks under children’s beds and in the recesses of dark closets. Perhaps it is somewhere in the corner of their eye, causing the hairs to stand up on the back of their necks. But this mythical character can also get adults in its clutches, too. He will drag you into his lair of despair, never to be seen or heard from again. Or, he will simply get into your head to the point that you can only focus on his looming presence. So it only makes sense that Stephen King would have a short story, aptly titled “The Boogeyman,” about this infamous entity. Now, that ‘70s-era fright is coming to live in The Boogeyman, an upcoming movie with a very ominous trailer.
Yellowjackets star Sophie Thatcher is student Sadie Harper, a high school student living with her younger sister Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair) and their therapist father Will (Chris Messina). The family recently lost its matriarch and is all dealing with their pain separately, but that is the least of their problems. You see, one of Will’s patients came to their home and left the very unwanted houseguest behind. You know, a creepy and terrifying entity that loves to feed on the suffering of grieving families. Perfection.
And we all know those kinds of monsters do not want to leave until everyone is dead. The Boogeyman story and its trailer certainly amp up the terror. The connection between grief and horror, along with small flashes of its titular monster and sketchy lighting, make for a frightening narrative. King’s short story ends with a shocking twist that we won’t give away. But we can say that this movie will probably be one hell of a twisted ride. And it is always nice to see one of our beloved Yellowjackets girls onscreen.
The Boogeyman will hit theaters on June 2, 2023.
Originally published on January 30, 2023.
