When making a horror movie, getting effective jump scares like that is an absolute must. It’s part of the communal experience, and that helps put a lot of butts in seats. Remember, “The Boogeyman” was originally produced with a streaming release on Hulu in mind. However, outstanding test screenings convinced Disney to shift its strategy and give this one a wide release in theaters, right in the heart of the summer movie season. And it was actually Stephen King himself who helped ensure that the film wouldn’t be relegated to streaming.
Given that it seems Savage produced a crowd-pleaser here, that shift seems like a wise move. Horror has been the hottest thing at the box office over the last couple of years, with movies like “Smile,” “M3GAN,” and “The Black Phone” serving as recent success stories. Disney undoubtedly stands to make a bigger splash (and more money) by letting this monster scare audiences in crowded theaters. Maximum impact, maximum profit.
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (“A Quiet Place”) penned the screenplay for the adaptation alongside Mark Heyman (“Black Swan”). The cast includes Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”), Chris Messina (“Birds of Prey”), Vivien Lyra Blair (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”), Marin Ireland (“The Umbrella Academy”), Madison Hu (“Bizaardvark”), LisaGay Hamilton (“Vice”), and David Dastmalchian (“Dune”).
“The Boogeyman” hits theaters on June 2, 2023.
