The Boogeyman - UK title: The Bogey Man – is a 1980 American supernatural slasher film written, produced and directed by Ulli Lommel. It stars his wife Suzanna Love, Nicholas Love, Ron James and John Carradine. The excellent synth score is by Tim Krog.
In 1982, it was followed by Revenge of the Bogeyman aka Boogeyman II which re-hashed lots of footage from this film. The sheer number of bizarre (often darkly comical) deaths led it to become a ‘Video Nasty’. Lommel later revisited the sequel and released a ‘redux’ director’s version that included even more footage from the 1980 original, plus newly shot scenes of himself talking directly to the camera. In 1994, he also came up with the confused and confusing Return of the Boogeyman which also includes extensive footage from the original. Apparently. Lommel has expressed interest in making a fourth film, tentatively titled Boogeyman 4D. The world can’t wait…
A young girl witnesses her brother murder a man through a reflection in a mirror. Twenty years later the mirror is shattered, freeing his evil spirit, which seeks revenge for his death...
Lommel began his career as an actor in German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s films but in recent years he has become notorious for a long line of direct-to-video movies based on the lives of serial killers, most of which have been critically panned.
The film was given a limited release theatrically in the United States by The Jerry Gross Organization beginning in November 1980. It was subsequently released on VHS by Wizard Video.
The Boogeyman was placed on the UK’s DPP list in 1984, probably due to its sleazy opening and inventively gory kill scenes, but was later re-released on the Vipco label in 1992 in a cut form. In 2000, it was finally released uncut.
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“Certainly worthy of another look, The Boogeyman is one of those films that may fade into darkness for years at a time, but is never really forgotten. Recommended.” Retro Slashers
“A few unexpected jump scares are moderately amusing, and the triple homicide that really gets the ball rolling is gory, nasty, and inspired. Don’t go into this one expecting any serious scares as there aren’t any to be found, but it’s a fun time killer and an entertaining, if rather dumbed down, product of its time.” Ian Jane, DVD Talk
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Posted by Will Holland
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