It may or may not have been coincidental that I strained through director Steven Kay's latest masterpiece since \Get Carter"" in the theater alone. How ""Boogeyman"" managed to earn nearly $20 million, on Super Bowl weekend no less, is definitely beyond me.
Its simple storyline throws in every generic horror-movie ingredient, evident in many of today's lackluster suspense films like ""The Grudge"" or ""Alone in the Dark,"" which add to the suspense but leave gaps of inconsistency.
The film opens in typical horror fashion, as the camera slowly creaks up dimly-lit steps to a child's room. His father comes in to assure young Timmy that the Boogeyman does not exist, and everything is a figment of Timmy's imagination.
However, the title of the movie is ""Boogeyman,"" so sure enough, the Boogeyman gets dear old dad. Employing lightning speed and brutal strength that would give even the Predator a run for his money, the Boogeyman dispatches Timmy's dad.
Flash forward 30-some years, and young Timmy has grown up. Now he is a secondary magazine editor with a deep-seated fear of closets, played by Barry Watson of ""7th Heaven"" fame.
While spending Thanksgiving weekend at his girlfriend's, Tim learns that his mother has died, sending him back home to ""where it all began,"" and paving the way for plenty of pop-up scenes.
The slowly-developed story is laced with plenty of creaks and a symphony of eerie music.
Tim's long-term child psychiatrist suggests Tim can overcome his fears by staying in his childhood home for several days. For those paying attention, yes, this is the exact same home in which his father was brutally slain right before young Timmy's eyes.
The plot comes together as awkwardly as Watson's character. It spins out of control when suddenly Tim is able to time-travel, ending up in the house of his childhood friend when he had only moments before been in a motel with his girlfriend.
True to horror movie convention, Tim soon encounters a disturbed kid played by Skye McCole Bartusiak, who actually disappeared in 1985, making her existence questionable.
She does, however, have memories of her father, who once tried to take on the Boogeyman but failed, leaving only Tim to finish the job. The movie fails to expound upon this relationship, which plays a vital role in advancing the storyline.
In the end, many questions are left unanswered. With all the unnecessary pop-up scenes crammed in, there is just not enough time for story development. ""Boogeyman's"" meager 86 minutes does not allow enough exposition, and Kay makes no attempt at explaining his mess.
Why, in fact, does the Boogeyman have an agenda to destroy everyone important in Tim's life? Who is this bizarre child? How does this monster exist?
Regardless, a final showdown must occur between the Boogeyman and Tim. Two entities, one man, one beast. Mano a mano.
When the monster is finally revealed, as in most cheesy horror films, it douses any fear one might have while watching up to that point-Tim will live to see another day.
The film, as if reading my mind, ends as quickly as it began, leaving no hint as to what the brave protagonist might do next with his life having just killed the Boogeyman. A Barney-inspired message permeates through the end: In life you must stand up to your fears.
