The Boogeyman (2023) – Darkness Has a Voice
The Boogeyman is a psychological horror film based on Stephen King’s short story, exploring the terror of unseen forces and the emotional weight of grief. The story follows Sadie and Sawyer Harper, two sisters struggling with the recent death of their mother. Their father, a therapist, is emotionally distant, and the family feels fractured.
Their world begins to unravel when a desperate patient arrives at their home and speaks of a dark creature that feeds on sorrow. After the man’s sudden death, an evil presence takes root in the house. What starts as a creeping shadow becomes an all-consuming nightmare as the sisters are tormented by an entity that hides in the dark and preys on fear.
The film builds tension through atmospheric lighting, silence, and subtle movements. It doesn’t rely heavily on gore but instead crafts fear through suggestion. The creature, rarely seen in full, lurks in corners and whispers through the silence, embodying the terrifying idea of grief given form.
Sophie Thatcher delivers a grounded and emotional performance as Sadie, capturing the conflict between mourning and protecting her younger sister. The pacing is deliberate, drawing viewers into the family's fragile state before unleashing the horror.
Though the final act leans into familiar tropes, The Boogeyman excels at creating unease. It is less about jump scares and more about what you can’t see — and how fear grows strongest in the dark.
The Boogeyman is a chilling reminder that grief can take on a life of its own and that sometimes, the scariest monsters are the ones we bring home with us.
