Horror Movie Review: Beware the Boogeyman (2024)

Beware the Boogeyman is an anthology horror film with a cool concept. One that sees several stories connected via the mysterious entity known as The Boogeyman.

Five characters, five stories, and a wraparound that sees Dr. Tristan Makenzie (Elissa Dowling) arrive at the Silverdale Psychiatric Hospital where she is due to start work soon. There, she meets Dr. Gabey Moon (Airisa Durand) and through her learns about some of the hospital’s more notorious residents. Five, who are all here because they have been deemed criminally insane, and share a common delusion that surrounds The Boogeyman.

Their stories, or rather their case files, is what makes up the bulk of this anthology as we see the events that led them to this place, with the common caveat being that this is their recanting and there’s no good reason to believe a single word of it. Especially as each tale of horror has important parallels to mental health issues.

The first writer/director is Calvin Morie McCarthy, who directs both the wraparound and the first case file. Cathy (Chynna Rae Shurts) has brought a man named Glen (Rollyn Stafford) to her country home after a night out. It looks like a typical ‘one-night stand’ scenario except that Cathy has a terrifying secret and Glen’s about to find out what it is.

A strong first segment that looks and feels bigger and bolder than the story concept implies it should be.

The second case file comes from writer/director Josh Dietrich and focuses on Olivia (Nicolette Pullen). She is an artist, and like many an artist, has somewhat of a tortured soul and uses that pain to create art. Until she starts to make something she doesn’t recognise. Another strong segment that is heavy on atmosphere, has some creepy touches, and provides a more compelling and believable focus on potential mental health issues.

Up next, it’s Kai Pacifico Eng’s third case file and Tommy (Khail Duggan) is being consumed by guilt, it seems. Having murdered someone, he, and his brother Ethan (James Luster), have disposed of the body and returned to their parent’s old home (they’re dead) to stay low. Unfortunately, there’s no escaping the effect this can have on the mind. Is it all in Tommy’s head though, or is something more supernatural going on?

It’s not easy to care as this is a dull segment that slowly loses all momentum. Which also happens to the fourth case file, although this one is at least a bit more interesting and fun. Where Tim Coyle creates something with a bit of a nod and a wink towards the audience. John (Steve Larkin) hires a hooker named Rose (Jax Kellington) but he’s not after sex, he’s after a camera person and on the promise of a decent wedge of money, she agrees.

What is she filming? Proof that The Boogeyman exists, which John is convinced he can provide. The tongue is jammed firmly in the cheek here, and while the humour is there, there’s no denying it comes from a dark place. It’s a fun one, even if it does start to run out of steam near the end.

Finally, it’s Chynna Rae Shurts’ case file five and in it, we meet Shawn, a recovering addict that has just come out of rehab and his living with his mother (Marcella Laasch). She’s always on his case, in particular, warning him that The Boogeyman will get him if he’s bad. Of course, The Boogeyman isn’t real so when Shawn relapses, he hardly cares.

Which proves to be a mistake. The Boogeyman is real, or at least as real as Shawn’s battered mind can make it. The final segment is solid and closes out the stories in style. Which leads to the wraparound and a very predictable, but enjoyable final few scenes.

A low-budget offering that does a good job of rising above its cheapness and delivering a very memorable anthology horror. Beware the Boogeyman is no classic, but it has plenty of reasons that make it a worthwhile watch.