Boogeyman (2005)

Director:

Stephen Kay

Writers (WGA):

Eric Kripke (story)
Eric Kripke (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

4 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You thought it was a just a story... but it's real.

Plot:

A young man tries to deal with the childhood terror that has affected his life.

Plot Keywords:

Childhood | Fear | Boogeyman | Hometown | Uncle

Cast

Barry Watson	...	Tim
Emily Deschanel	...	Kate Houghton
Skye McCole Bartusiak	...	Franny Roberts
Tory Mussett	...	Jessica
Andrew Glover	...	Boogeyman
Lucy Lawless	...	Tim's Mother
Charles Mesure	...	Tim's Father
Philip Gordon	...	Uncle Mike
Aaron Murphy	...	Young Tim
Jennifer Rucker	...	Pam
Scott Wills	...	Co-Worker
Michael Saccente	...	Jessica's Dad
Louise Wallace	...	Jessica's Mom
Brenda Simmons	...	Jessica's Grandma
Josie Tweed	...	Jessica's Sister
Ian Campbell	...	Franny's Father
Robyn Malcolm	...	Dr. Matheson
Olivia Tennet	...	Terrified Girl
Edward Campbell	...	Priest
Andrew Eggleton	...	Jessica's Brother-in-Law (as Andrew Eggelton)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lee Foreman	...	Worried Mother (uncredited)
Gene Hollins-Werry	...	Boy (uncredited)
Noah Matthews	...	Boy (uncredited)
Caden St. Clair	...	Child (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Kay

Writing credits (WGA)
Eric Kripke		(story)
Eric Kripke		(screenplay) and
Juliet Snowden		(screenplay) &
Stiles White		(screenplay)

Produced by
Gary Bryman	....	executive producer
Joseph Drake	....	executive producer (as Joe Drake)
Steve Hein	....	executive producer
Nathan Kahane	....	executive producer
Michael Kirk	....	associate producer
Eric Kripke	....	co-producer
Doug Lefler	....	co-producer (as Doug Leffler)
Carsten H.W. Lorenz	....	executive producer (as Carsten Lorenz)
Sam Raimi	....	producer
Chloe Smith	....	line producer
Robert G. Tapert	....	producer (as Rob Tapert)

Original Music by
Joseph LoDuca

Cinematography by
Bobby Bukowski

Film Editing by
John Axelrad

Casting by
Marie Adams
Miranda Gooch
Lynn Kressel

Production Design by
Robert Gillies

Art Direction by
Nick Bassett
Philip Ivey
Jennifer Ward

Set Decoration by
Jill Cormack
Jackie Gilmore

Costume Design by
Jane Holland

Makeup Department
Susan Glass	....	hair supervisor: second unit
Susan Glass	....	makeup supervisor: second unit
Marjory Hamlin	....	hair stylist supervisor
Marjory Hamlin	....	makeup supervisor
Vanita Thomas	....	assistant hair stylist
Vanita Thomas	....	assistant makeup artist
Deb Watson	....	key hair stylist
Deb Watson	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Moira Grant	....	unit production manager
Jim Miller	....	executive in charge of production
Jack Schuster	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simon Ambridge	....	first assistant director
Paul Grinder	....	second unit director
Terri Kilmartin	....	first assistant director: second unit
Katie Tate	....	second second assistant director
Maawhi Torrance	....	second assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Robert Bavin	....	stand-by props
Phil Chitty	....	construction manager
Angela Durbin	....	props stand-by assistant
Alistair Gillies	....	art depertment assistant
Fraser Harvey	....	construction foreman
Simon Hutchings	....	painter
Viv Kernick	....	property master
Elly Meyrick	....	prop buyer
Gareth Mills	....	set dresser
Roger Murray	....	props designer
Mary Pat Sheahan	....	standby painter
Josh Sheppard	....	storyboard artist
Megan Vertelle	....	set dresser
Tracey Wilson	....	storyboard artist

Sound Department
Ray Beentjes	....	supervising dialogue editor
Gethin Creagh	....	sound re-recording mixer
Melanie Graham	....	sound effects editor
Michael Hedges	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tony Johnson	....	sound mixer
Matthew Lambourn	....	sound editor
Robyn McFarlane	....	sound recordist
Carolyn McLaughlin	....	foley artist
Peter Mills	....	sound effects editor
Tim Prebble	....	sound designer
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Chris Todd	....	dialogue editor
Justin Webster	....	assistant dialogue editor
Dave Whitehead	....	sound designer
Dave Whitehead	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Brendon Durey	....	special effects director
Dan Perry	....	special effects makeup technician (as Daniel Perry)
Felix Q. Ponce	....	special effects makeup technician
Richard Schuler	....	senior special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Daniel Barrett	....	animator: Oktobor
Jason Billington	....	digital compositor: pre-visualization
Dan Blank	....	look development
Nick Booth	....	scanning and recording supervisor: Weta Digital
Richard Borg	....	digital intermediate assist
Jon Bowen	....	senior compositor
James Braid	....	engineering
David Cole	....	lead digital colourist
David Cole	....	supervising digital colourist
Sam Cole	....	senior compositor: research and development previz
Tony Cole	....	lead compositor
Marten Coombe	....	digital intermediate coordinator
Martyn 'Moose' Culpitt	....	digital compositor: Oktobor Films
Jason Duncan	....	digital compositor
Patrick Felgueras	....	digital effects artist
Brent Gilmartin	....	visual effects supervisor
David Hampton	....	scanning and recording technician: Weta Digital
Dean Lyon	....	head: Oktobor
Dee McClelland	....	dailies colorist
Damian McDonnell	....	digital colourist
Matthew Packham	....	digital compositor
George Port	....	visual effects supervisor: PRPVFX
Mohan Ramachandran	....	scanning and recording technician: Weta Digital
Tim Rudgard	....	inferno artist
Abigail Scollay	....	digital compositor
Pedram Shohadai	....	digital effects artist
Pedram Shohadai	....	visual effects animator
Cameron Smith	....	digital compositor: pre-visualization, Oktobor VFX
Greg Spencer	....	digital compositor
Shereena-Lee van de Berkt	....	visual effects co-producer: post production
Randy Vellacott	....	digital compositor
Leon Woods	....	digital compositor
Phil Greig	....	digital intermediate technologist (uncredited)
Danielle Norgate	....	compositor: PRPVFX Ltd (uncredited)
Carol Petrie	....	visual effects artist: PRPVFX Limited (uncredited)

Stunts
Sean Button	....	stunt double
Craig Dunn	....	stunt performer
Mark Harris	....	stunt coordinator
Glen Levy	....	stunt rigger
Steve McQuillan	....	stunt coordinator
Allan Poppleton	....	stunt driver
Stuart Thorp	....	assistant stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bell	....	lighting technician
Jonathan Bixley	....	best boy
Kirsty Griffin	....	still photographer
Scott Harman	....	lighting technician
Simon Hawkins	....	key dolly grip
Brenden Holster	....	first assistant camera
Andrew McGeorge	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Aaron Morton	....	director of photography: additional material
Evan Pardington	....	best boy grip
Ruru Reedy	....	electrician
James Rua	....	video operator
David Sargison	....	lighting assistant
Tim Shafe	....	crane operator: Technocrane
Gavin Stroud	....	additional camera operator
Alan Wilson	....	lighting board operator

Animation Department
Andy Cadzow	....	animator

Casting Department
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Caroline Liem	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Bosley	....	costume stand-by: second unit
Anna Bosley	....	extras costume supervisor
Jenny Rushton	....	key costume stand-by

Editorial Department
Mark V. Phillips	....	first assistant editor
James Renfroe	....	apprentice editor
Stephen R. Sheridan	....	color timer
Robb Sullivan	....	additional editor

Music Department
Nathan Hofheins	....	orchestrator
Scott Davidson	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Tobin Adams	....	assistant: Mr. Lorenz
Robert Gibson	....	safety officer/medic
Brett Higginson	....	location scout
Talula Holt	....	adr voice artist
Rebecca Hutton	....	production accountant
Jaehi Jung	....	title designer
Karsten Kastelan	....	publicist
Erin Lander	....	adr loop group
Norbert Maass	....	sales manager: Senator International
Lisa Marinkovich	....	accounting assistant
Sue May	....	publicist
Dianne Moffatt	....	second script supervisor
Asha Norman	....	assistant: Mr. Kay
David Pollison	....	office assistant: Renaissance Pictures
Leigh-Ann Pukeroa	....	assistant: Mr. Tapert
Patricia Rivera	....	assistant: Mr. Drake
Niccola Sanderson	....	production coordinator
Clayton Tikao	....	location manager
Dina Valenzuela	....	production accountant
Andrew J. Wahlquist	....	assistant: Mr. Kahane
Danielle White	....	production coordinator
Angela Williams	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Screen Gems (presents)
• Senator International (in association with)
• Ghost House Pictures (a division of Senator International Inc.)
• Pacific Renaissance Pictures Ltd.

Distributors

• Screen Gems (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• AQS (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Acme Film (2005) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
• Associated Euromedia (2005) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2005) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Belga Films (2005) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Nordisk Film Distributors (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Golden Screen (2005) (Malaysia) (theatrical)
• Golden Village (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• I Vision (2005) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Monolith (2005) (Poland) (theatrical)
• Nontanund Entertainment (2005) (Thailand) (theatrical)
• Panasia Films (2005) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Pyramid (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sam Film (2005) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• TFM Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2009) (Chile) (all media)
• Eagle Pictures (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Film1 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gulf Films (Middle East)
• Manga Films (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• Medyavizyon (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• My Network TV (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (2005) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• Provision (Federel Republic of Yugoslavia)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL8)
• Shochiku Company (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sun Distribution (Latin America)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Oktobor (visual effects)
• PRPVFX Limited (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Digital Post Ltd.  post-production
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• LoopEase  loop group

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror and terror/violence, and some partial nudity

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA | New Zealand | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Malaysia:18SG | France:-12 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41008) | Greece:K-17 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Albert Park, Princes Street, Auckland Central Business District, Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

Screen Gems

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tim goes swerves around the truck on his way to the house you can see a hubcap rolling off the left side of his car. Both hubcaps are on the left side of his car in following scenes.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Katie:Listen to me Tim. It's time to grow up. Nothing supernatural happened. These feelings you're having, they're going to get worse unless you face this. Go home Tim. Spend one night in that house. It will help.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Boogeyman 3 (2008) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jazzacuba

Directors and Producers take note !!! Learn from this movie's mistakes.

Let's acknowledge the fact that practically everyone HATES this movie. Yet it had a lot of potential. What went wrong? Producers, film students, TAKE NOTE. Its EVERYTHING BAD in a horror movie, and makes us feel cheated, insulted, and burned.

Its the kind of movie that LOOKS like something we'd be interested in. The trailer showed a pretty creepy scene: a slow walk to a front door of a Gothic-style Victorian farmhouse, a scary hand on the door. The stuff of childhood nightmares and imaginings.

Additionally, the movie had a lot going for it -- a spooky-as-hell soundtrack, a seriously creepy Gothic farmhouse which even old-house fanatics might shudder at being alone in at night. Small-town stagnation and isolation. Unhelpful country people who just don't like outsiders. The stuff of moody, haunting atmospheres.

But, rather than play on a slow, spooky, dreamlike ambiance the house, the terrors, the memories of the lost dad and his murder/abduction, we get a woosh of distracting angles and wild camera swoops and flashes of light that are neither realistic nor scary.

The eerie soundtrack is constantly interrupted by flashes of light and noise that are supposed to 'scare' but show nothing and only interrupt the brooding atmosphere.

And what is the Boogeyman in this movie, anyway? Balled lightning? An explosion of distorted, computer-animated birds? a malfunctioning transmitted cartoon image of the grim reaper? Hard to tell. Bad computer animation spoils the image. We can't even imagine.

We certainly do NOT see any Boogeyman. Not the guy with the creepy hand on the door in the trailer. If we see anything at all, it's like video game graphics distorted by a glitch in the imagery.

C'mon, producers -- GIVE US THE BOOGEYMAN. Not videogenic mess.The Boogeyman must be a CHARACTER we can see -- preferably something that talks or has some other habit that frightens us. Freddy Krueger, Jeepers Creepers, the Tall Man on Phantasm, Reverend Henry Kane on Poltergeist or the chauffeur on Burnt Offerings who is too thin and tall and has a freaky, inappropriate grin and piercing stare -- are Boogeymen. (Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, and Leatherface are perhaps another type of boogyman, but their agenda is less frightening because they exist merely to kill)

Rather than being killed or abducted by the boogeyman which we see in the trailer,we instead see people being bounced around the walls of rooms and hallways like rubber balls. Just one impact at this overdone velocity would kill a person instantly, but here, we see people bounce around the walls and get back up, unharmed, to 'fight.' and see victims instantly wrapped in saran rap, etc. On and on it goes.

Directors, producers, please take note. It just doesn't work. Things that move faster than the eye can see are not scary. Cheap computer graphic effects don't work. Loud, startling noises are a cheap substitute for brooding horror or shocking terror, and don't work.

The true 'Boogeyman' archetype that really scares the crap out of us is a slow, menacing presence. We may only get glimpses of him or he may torment us from the closet or under the bed as in Poltergiest, or he may come a'calling like a traveling salesman or road menace. True Boogeymen must be seen in closets, we see him in the mirror on closet doors, we see him hanging like a scarecrow or hanging from a noose like a kite caught in a tree. They come uninvited to take what they want; they can appear out of nowhere and can seem to disappear just as fast; they usually have personalities and voices that creep us out no matter how many years pass; they are invincible, and they like for you to learn of their invincibility as you try to fight them off. They love to torment and terrorize their victims before killing/abducting/soul eating/dragging them off to hell or whatever they do.

True boogeymen may have some weaknesses. In better horror movies and nightmares, they can sometimes temporarily be resisted or staved off by certain psychological or spiritual disciplines, or religious rituals but they cannot really be destroyed. At best, they may leave us to find an easier target, but they usually get what they want.

I was not impressed at all with this movie; I'm even more disgusted by the fact that they had a lot of good actors/sets/technologies to work with.

For instance, the character of Franny Roberts (Skye McCole Bartusiak), a mysterious, attractive, but oddly troubled twelvish-year-old girl who seems to know what's going on, was by far a more interesting character in this film than the 'Boogeyman.' In fact, she was the most interesting character in the movie: weirdly sad, melancholy, yet somewhat a tomboy -- like a lost childhood friend we forgot about and kinda miss. Why wasn't she given a bigger role?

And the protagonist Tim (Barry Watson) did a pretty convincing act of being legitimately scared and haunted by a childhood memory. They (Tim and the little girl, Franny) should have been the ones, together, to thwart or vanquish the "boogeyman.' Not the guy and the ex-crush 'Kate.'

Remember, the boogeyman should be a menacing presence; a collector of souls, a tormentor who plays games with his victims before taking them away. Boogeymen may have vulnerabilities, but cannot really be destroyed. Please, no more computer-animated lightning explosions and MTV to represent the boogeyman.

Most of all, the Boogeyman needs to be a character, and not just be bad graphics a-flashing. The boogeyman needs a voice and creepy antics. He is an abductor of souls, the tormentor of children, he is somewhat invincible but can be driven away, and always takes his helpless victims to a fate worse than hell.

Remember this.