Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Boogeyman 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 1, 2023

Co-writer/director Ulli Lommel needed a hit movie, and what better way to create a success than to lift elements of previous box office successes. 1980’s “The Boogey Man” isn’t too shy about stealing from other titles, with elements of “The Amityville Horror,” “Halloween,” and “The Exorcist” prominently displayed in the endeavor. One would think such “inspiration” would create a riveting study of evil, but Lommel is in no hurry with “The Boogey Man,” keeping the spare effort slow and somewhat uneventful, trying to master some type of cinematic creep that doesn’t register as intended. It’s a handsome picture though, with unusual focus on lighting and atmosphere that helps to hold attention as the production tries to taffy- pull a small, weird idea into a feature-length haunting.

Long ago, siblings Lacey (Suzanna Love) and Willy (Nicholas Love) were terrorized by their mother and her lover. Pushing back on the physical abuse, Willy elects to take matters into his own hands, killing the lover with a kitchen knife. As adults, Lacey has built a life, taking a husband in Jake (Ron James), raising their young son. Willy is also on the family farm, remaining mute due to trauma. During a visit to her old family home, Lacey destroys a terrifying mirror, unaware the wall decoration contains the spirit of the murdered man. Bringing it back to the farm for repair, Lacey is haunted once again by thoughts of horror, while pieces of the mirror start to cause trouble in the area, bringing death to those who encounter the shards.

For some reason, the mirror contains the malevolent soul of a random man who enjoys putting pantyhose over his head, also participating in the abuse of Willy. It’s a cursed object for no real reason, but one must go with the flow with “The Boogey Man,” which is primarily made up of horror moments, not really following a plot. The movie basically observes the unraveling of Lacey, who assisted in the murder of her mother’s lover as a child, growing up to have all her well-adjusted ways fall apart when revisiting the mirror. There’s a little touch of psychology-fu provided by Dr. Warren (John Carradine), but “The Boogey Man” is more interested in cracked mirror moments, with pieces inspiring ghastly events around town, including the oral harpooning of a couple trying to enjoy a day at the beach. Trouble is, there are long gaps of stillness between kills, with Lommel trying to maintain suspense through subjective camera shots and the sounds of heavy breathing, desperate to replicate some John Carpenter moves without the same sense of timing.

The Boogeyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

"The Boogey Man" comes to UHD, sourced from a 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative. There's a startling freshness to the image, with detail excellent throughout. Skin particulars are crisp, offering a sense of age and, eventually, bodily harm. Costuming remains fibrous, exploring period clothing and heavier farmer gear. Exteriors are deep, showcasing the wide world, and interiors are open for study. Colors are vivid, with rich primaries pumping up lighting choices, including bright reds and greens. The opening sequence is also memorable, capturing the blueness of night with the orange glow of interior lighting. Skin tones are natural. Blacks are deep, preserving evening activity and shadow play. Highlights are tasteful. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in decent condition, with some mild wear and tear.

The Boogeyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix mostly leads with scoring cues, which offer a crisp synth sound. Suspenseful moods are appreciable, going deeper with stalking sequences. Dialogue exchanges are intelligible, securing crisp emotionality and balanced screams of horror. Sound effects are blunt but effective.

The Boogeyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features film historian Kat Ellinger.

• Commentary #2 features editor Terrell Tannen.

• "Scenes from a Marriage" (38:57, HD) is an interview with co-writer/actress Suzanne Love, and if you ask this person a question, be prepared to receive a lengthy answer. Love goes anywhere and everywhere with this study of her life, beginning with her early years of education and drug addiction, ending up heading across the world before returning to America. A summer acting job eventually claimed her attention, soon working her way into bigger projects before meeting director Ulli Lommel, beginning a "discourteous courtship." The interviewee explores this volatile union, which featured physical and emotional abuse, remaining with Lommel as they began their filmmaking adventure together, eventually marrying in 1978. Love eventually gets around to the making of "The Boogey Man," which became a family affair, soon joined by her mother, and her brother, Nicholas Love, examining this troubled sibling dynamic. The financial performance of "The Boogey Man" is highlighted, as Love struggled for years to be paid for her work, and she discusses the "video nasty" label slapped on the picture.

• "Boogey Man, and So On" (33:59, HD) is an interview with co-writer/cinematographer David Sperling, who details his early relationship with director Ulli Lommel, finding his way into the filmmaker's orbit during the 1970s. Acquiring access to a farm, Sperling joined "The Boogey Man" production experience, helping to put the feature together, including a crew that was largely rewarded with beer. The ins and outs of cinematography are analyzed, with Sperling tasked with cooking up unreal visuals for very little money, revealing a few of his tricks. Lighting choices are detailed in full. The interviewee also shares his assessment of Lommel's directorial skill.

• "Pick-Up Girl" (8:21, HD) is an interview with actress Catherine Tambini, who was a young actress looking for work, eventually finding herself part of the additional shooting on "The Boogey Man" to help pad the run time. The interviewee shares her time working in a chicken coop, handling eventual ADR requirements poorly.

• "Cuts from the Mirror" (20:38, HD) is an interview with editor Terrell Tannen, who wanted out of the world of documentary films, eager to starting making features. After meeting with Ulli Lommel, Tannen was hired, tasked with learning the shooting process, with "The Boogey Man" an educational experience. Post-production occurred in Los Angeles, exposing the editor to a different way of life in a fleabag motel. Technical achievements are noted, and time with actor John Carradine is shared. An assessment of Lommel ambition and personality are also included.

• "Boogey Man as Art" (15:01, HD) is an interview with camera operator Jurg V. Walther. A native of Switzerland, Walther eventually made his way to America to pursue a dream of filmmaking, accepting work with Ulli Lommel, drawn to the helmer's mysterious ways. Memories of cast and crew are shared, and imagery from "The Boogey Man" is analyzed.

• Archival Interview (18:00, SD) is a 2016 discussion of "The Boogey Man" with co-writer/director Ulli Lommel.

• T.V. Spots #1 (:34, HD) and #2 (:34, HD) are offered.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:07, SD) is included.

The Boogeyman 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Boogey Man" brings in Father Riley (Llewelyn Thomas) to add some Catholic hero energy to the final act of the feature (aided by a "Tubular Bells" soundalike on the soundtrack), which needs a little boost of something, as the feature is often dragged down by prolonged stalking sequences and tedious padding, including a chicken coop encounter between Willy and Katy (Catherine Tambini), who stops by for eggs, hoping for a little sexual attention instead. Even with such needless additions, the endeavor only makes it to 79 minutes (before end credits), and it's a long 79 minutes. Still, there are highlights in the movie, including cinematography, which works more carefully than screenwriting to summon intimidating moods. "The Boogey Man" looks very nice for a low-budget effort, and when all else fails the film, it usually offers something strange to study as the mirror goes mad.