The Boogeyman: release date, plot, cast, trailer and all we know (2024)

The Boogeyman: release date, plot, cast, trailer and all we know (1)

The Boogeyman has long been a terrifying concept, with children afraid of things that go bump in the night or might be hiding under their bed.

Stephen King wrote a short story about this mythic creature(we hope it's mythic anyway!) and it's getting a new adaptation with Rob Savage at the helm of the project.

Fans will no doubt recognize Rob from his critically acclaimed Zoom-style horror movie Host in 2020, in the height of lockdown, which terrified audiences as it felt a bit too real. Is anyone else still recovering?

Now he's back to do it all over again and said of his new movie: "The Boogeyman is a classic horror movie in the mold of Poltergeist that has scares and heart in equal measure.

"I vividly remember the terror I felt reading King’s short story as a kid, and it’s this feeling of childhood fear that I wanted to inspire in cinema audiences around the world."

He added: "This film was made in collaboration with an incredibly talented team of creatives, and is anchored by wonderful, soulful performances from our incredible cast - I'm in awe of them, truly. We’re incredibly proud of this movie."

Here's everything you need to know about The Boogeyman.

The Boogeyman release date

The movie is released in cinemas globally on Friday, June 2. We don't have word on a potential streaming release yet, but if that changes we will keep you updated.

The Boogeyman plot

Stephen King's story has been adapted for the screen by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods who worked on A Quiet Place and Mark Heyman, known for his work on Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.

According to 20th Century Studios, the plot for The Boogeyman is: "High school student Sadie Harper and her younger sister Sawyer are reeling from the recent death of their mother and aren’t getting much support from their father, Will, a therapist who is dealing with his own pain.

"When a desperate patient unexpectedly shows up at their home seeking help, he leaves behind a terrifying supernatural entity that preys on families and feeds on the suffering of its victims."

The Boogeyman cast

There's a great line-up attached to The Boogeyman with Yellowjackets star Sophie Thatcher leading the cast as Sadie Harper and Obi-Wan Kenobi's Vivien Lyra Blair playing the role of her sister, Sawyer.

Sadie and Sawyer's father, Will, is played by Julie & Julia star Chris Messina and The Practice's LisaGay Hamilton plays the role of Dr. Weller, who works with the family after they start experiencing strange occurrences.

Meanwhile, Boston Strangler star David Dastmalchian stars as the unexpected arrival Lester.

In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, David Dastmalchian said: "With Lester comes a story that's not only going to change this family's life but is going to introduce a materialized horror the likes of which the people in this film — and I think audiences — have really never seen before."

Is there a trailer?

Yes and it's as terrifying as you might expect, giving us a glimpse into how a family's life changes rapidly after the titular Boogeyman is released.

The less said the better, see for yourself...

A second trailer has also been shared on social media, with the lead character telling us to "relax". Somehow, we don't think that's going to happen!

Get the What to Watch Newsletter

The latest updates, reviews and unmissable series to watch and more!

The Boogeyman: release date, plot, cast, trailer and all we know (3)

Lucy Buglass

Senior Staff Writer

Lucy joined the WhatToWatch.com team in 2021, where she writes series guides for must-watch programmes, reviews and the latest TV news. Originally from Northumberland, she graduated from Oxford Brookes University with a degree in Film Studies and moved to London to begin a career writing about entertainment.

She is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic and has a huge passion for cinema. She especially loves horror, thriller and anything crime-related. Her favourite TV programmes include Inside No 9, American Horror Story, Stranger Things and Black Mirror but she is also partial to a quiz show or a bit of Say Yes to the Dress!

More about movies

Curious Caterer Foiled Plans: release date, trailer, cast, plot and everything we know about the Hallmark Mystery movieThe Exorcism: release date, trailer, cast and everything we know about the Russell Crowe movie

Latest

Shardlake's Arthur Hughes on his role as 'the Tudor Inspector Morse'
See more latest►

Most Popular
Below Deck Mediterranean season 9: release date, cast, trailer and everything we know
Super Rich in Korea: release date, plot, cast, hosts, trailer and everything we know
Presumed Innocent: release date, cast and everything we know about the Jake Gyllenhaal crime drama
Marcus Wareing Simply Provence: release date, recipes, destinations and everything we know
America's Got Talent season 19: release date, judges and everything we know about the competition show
Branching Out: release date, trailer, cast, plot and everything we know about the Hallmark Channel movie
How to watch the NBA playoffs on Max
My Lady Jane: release date, plot, cast, images and all we know
How to watch the NFL Draft on ESPN Plus
Geek Girl: release date, cast, plot and everything we know
Freely: what it is, how to use and channels for the free TV streaming service
The Boogeyman: release date, plot, cast, trailer and all we know (2024)

FAQs

Why is The Boogeyman rated R? ›

The MPAA gave The Boogeyman a PG-13 rating for terror, violent content, teen drug use and some strong language. As with all horror films, there are scary elements. A big part of The Boogeyman's eeriness stems from the terrifying nature of the titular creature.

Can The Boogeyman be killed? ›

Why Fire Is The Boogeyman's Weakness. The Boogeyman stays in the shadows and shies away from light, therefore it can only be bested by fire. Fire is the original source of light discovered by humans, and brought people out of the dark at night.

What is the plot of Boogeyman? ›

Does The Boogeyman have a happy ending? ›

A battle with the Boogeyman ensues, in which it tries to suck the life out of Sadie, but the family fight back and Sadie sets the creature on fire using her mother's lighter and an aerosol can. Eventually, the monster is defeated, and Will, Sadie and Sawyer escape their house, which is now engulfed by flames.

What is the most kid friendly R rated movie? ›

R rated movies children can watch
  • Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. ...
  • The Descent: Part 2. 20091h 34mR. ...
  • The Mist. 20072h 6mR. ...
  • Paranormal Activity. 20071h 26mR. 6.3 (257K) Rate. ...
  • Paul. 20111h 44mR. 6.9 (267K) Rate. ...
  • Due Date. 20101h 35mR. 6.5 (359K) Rate. ...
  • Up in the Air. 20091h 49mR. 7.4 (350K) Rate. ...
  • Blood Diamond. 20062h 23mR. 8.0 (589K) Rate.

What does Boogeyman mean in Russian? ›

Babay or Babai (Russian: Бабай) is a night spirit (Bogeyman) in Slavic folklore. According to beliefs, he abducts children who do not sleep at night or behave badly. He is also called Babayka (Russian: Бабайка) or Babayko (Ukrainian: Бабайко), although the term may also be applied to his female equivalent.

Is The Boogeyman Based on a true story? ›

The boogeyman is not real, but most cultures have some version of the boogeyman myth, although they go by many, many different names. The actual "boogeyman" name most likely originated sometime in the 19th century, but the mythology of these kinds of "monsters" have been around for much longer than that.

Who killed the kids in The Boogeyman? ›

When Lester Billings opens up about the deaths of his children, he explains that the first child died from SIDS, but he suspects that "The Boogeyman," what his children called the "shadow monster" in the closet, was actually responsible. After its death, his next two children died within a year of one another.

What happened to the mom in The Boogeyman? ›

Plot. Therapist Will Harper is struggling to overcome the death of his wife, who died suddenly in a car crash. His daughters, Sadie and Sawyer, are likewise struggling to deal with their mother's passing. One day, a disturbed man called Lester Billings visits Will's office.

Is the Boogeyman a demon? ›

Facts about the Boogeyman Legend

The Boogey is usually an evil creature that is intent on harming people, usually children. The term bogey in the middle of the 19th century was a word for devil or demon. The Boogeyman's personality and appearance can vary greatly depending on the culture and country.

Is there a Boogeyman 2? ›

Boogeyman 2 was screened in a sold-out showing on October 20, 2007, at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival in Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

What does Boogeyman mean? ›

1. : a monstrous imaginary figure used in threatening children. 2. : a terrifying or dreaded person or thing : bugbear.

Is The Boogeyman good or bad? ›

The Boogeyman might fall short of its terrifying source material, but a spooky atmosphere and some solid performances help keep the chills coming. If you don't mind spending a lot of time waiting for things to happen, The Boogeyman is worth watching for some solid jump scares.

What was in the closet at the end of Boogeyman? ›

When Sadie returns to check what the therapist wants with her, she finds an empty room. There's only a closet partially open, from where the voice called Sadie. Since the Boogeyman can mimic other people's voices, Sadie understands the monster is still alive and reaching out to her.

What short story is The Boogeyman based on? ›

Taken directly from the pages of King's exquisite 1978 debut short story collection, Night Shift, "The Boogeyman" tells the story of one of the most loathsome characters (I don't say that lightly,) I've ever come across, as he and his wife, Rita, are afflicted with any parent's worst nightmare.

Is The Boogeyman ok for kids? ›

Parents need to know that The Boogeyman is a horror movie based on Stephen King's classic short story about a darkness-lurking creature that preys on a family grieving the loss of a parent/partner. Violence includes children in peril, monster attacks (a child is thrown across a room), shotgun blasts, a teen's…

Why is the movie Boogie Rated R? ›

Sex, Romance & Nudity. Kissing, sexual humor, sexual references/conversation. A scene alluding to sex between two characters.

Is The Boogeyman disturbing? ›

The film is off to a very creepy start, and the creepiness never lets go. This film is relentless, as it never allows the viewer to take a breath. It grabs you from the opening scene and completely reels you in, only to let go after the finale. Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) recently lost her mom in a car accident.

Is there anything worse than R rated movie? ›

NC-17. The NC-17 rating is the highest rating (even higher than the R-rating) that a film can be given, and it means the movie is for adults only (ages 18 and older) and no one age 17 or younger will be admitted.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6017

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.