The Boogeyman Director Explains How They Created The Mythical Monster (Exclusive) (2024)

By Jamie Jirak

The Boogeyman hit theaters everywhere today, and it's an adaptation of Stephen King's short story of the same name. The new horror film was directed by Rob Savage, who previously helmed Dashcam. The original story was first published in a 1973 issue of Cavalier before being collected in King's Night Shift anthology in 1978. Of course, the mythical "Boogeyman" has been a part of folklore since the 16th century, but it's never had a specific look. Recently, ComicBook.com had the chance to chat with Savage about his new film, and we asked about the design behind the monster and how they brought it to life.

"Yeah, when I came on board, nobody had any ideas," Savage revealed. "It was just this kind of amorphous thing. And so I kind of came up with my conception of the creature, which was I think actually before I came on, and kind of reworked the movie into what it became. Everyone was thinking more in terms of the last Boogeyman movie from 2005 where it's a tall kind of Babadook-y looking thing. And I really wanted to make this more of a creature feature, and for this to feel like something more kind of ferocious, and feral and inhuman."

Savage continued, "And the idea was to basically take this idea of the boogeyman and say, 'Okay, well. The boogeyman is just the name that we give it as scared children. This thing is actually way more ancient. This is the kind of primordial beast that's been around as long as there's darkness, and we've got to kind of consider it,' it's like a Lovecraftian, old god. This thing has just existed in the darkness, since time began."

"And part of the look that we came up with came from the description in the short story, and part of it, there's a kind of bit that happens at the end, this kind of weird Lovecraftian and body horror moment that happens, when the creature finally pins Sadie down," Savage explained. "That again is an homage to the short story, but also trying to leave the audience with this unknown dimension to the creature. Obviously, this is a PG-13 studio horror movie, you're going to see the monster at the end. The family's going to fight it. And I wanted there to be a moment that was just so kind of, 'What the f*ck,' that opened up a whole new question about this creature, and how much you're really seeing and understanding of it. Which again, I can't believe we got away with, in PG-13. But somehow, miraculously, we did."

Savage added the creature's design, "Well, it's all done in the computer, ultimately. We actually 3D printed the Boogeyman head which, then we kind of slathered in jelly, and lit it to make it look... Just to have a reference, so I could then show the VFX team and say, 'Look, that's what a real Boogey head looks like, in that environment, with all the stuff glistening.' So we had that on a stick, like a pantomime horse, and I would just run at the actors making noises, with this Boogeyman head. And sometimes we had a guy in suits, with the little baubles on, whenever we needed him to wrestle with the actors, or knock stuff over. We had that kind of practical element."

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Who Stars inThe Boogeyman?

The Boogeymanstars Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets), Chris Messina (Air), Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Marin Ireland (The Umbrella Academy), Madison Hu (Bizaardvark), LisaGay Hamilton (Vice), and David Dastmalchian (Boston Strangler). Savage, fresh off his Shudder hit Host, directs the film from a screenplay by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place) and Mark Heyman (Black Swan) and a screen story by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods based upon the short story by Stephen King.

The Boogeyman is now playing in theaters.

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The Boogeyman Director Explains How They Created The Mythical Monster (Exclusive) (2024)

FAQs

The Boogeyman Director Explains How They Created The Mythical Monster (Exclusive)? ›

We actually 3D printed the Boogeyman

the Boogeyman
Based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King, the film follows a family that becomes haunted by the Boogeyman after a troubled man visits and inadvertently brings the creature to them. The ensemble cast includes Sophie Thatcher, Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, and David Dastmalchian.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › The_Boogeyman_(2023_film)
head which, then we kind of slathered in jelly, and lit it to make it look... Just to have a reference, so I could then show the VFX team and say, 'Look, that's what a real Boogey head looks like, in that environment, with all the stuff glistening.

What is the monster in Boogeyman? ›

The Boogeyman is the titular main antagonist of the 2023 horror film The Boogeyman, based off the Stephen King short story of the same name. It is a monster of unknown origin that targets and murders entire families, usually ones that have experienced a loss of a family member.

What is the story behind The Boogeyman? ›

Creation of the bogeyman

It is generally thought that the bogeyman was invented to serve as a caution or deterrent to children. By warning children that a bogeyman will capture them if they stray into the dark woods, for instance, parents might better ensure that children are cautious about where they go and when.

What is the myth of The Boogeyman? ›

Bogeymen have no specific appearances and conceptions vary drastically by household and culture, but they are most commonly depicted as masculine or androgynous monsters that punish children for misbehaviour. The bogeyman, and conceptually similar monsters can be found in many cultures around the world.

What does The Boogeyman do to his victims? ›

The large majority of Boogeyman are there to just frighten children with punishments, and not actually inflict much damage. The more vicious Boogeyman is said to steal the children at night, and even eat them.

Is The Boogeyman connected to Pennywise? ›

Trivia. The Boogeyman's pleasure in instilling fear in his victims before killing them recalls Pennywise/IT's similar pleasure in terrorizing his prey. It is not known, however, whether the modus operandi of the two monsters are somehow connected.

Who killed Boogeyman? ›

Actually, in the movie it is mentioned that there was another mafia who was called Baba Yaga/The Boogeyman. John Wick was hired to kill him which he obviously did after which he was know as the Boogeyman.

Is the boogeyman real in real life? ›

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.

What is the real meaning of Boogeyman? ›

noun. , plural bo·gey·men. an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children.

What are the powers of the boogeyman? ›

The Boogeyman often has supernatural powers which allow it to punish those it deems fit. These powers can include flight, witchcraft, shapeshifting, and the ability to camouflage.

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.

How do you protect yourself from The Boogeyman? ›

Facing the Boogeyman
  1. Strengthen Your Resolve. ...
  2. Connect with Others. ...
  3. Maintain Perspective. ...
  4. Stay Informed. ...
  5. Amp Up Self-Care. ...
  6. Try Helpful Self-Talk. ...
  7. Consider Supplements and Meds.
Mar 21, 2020

Where is The Boogeyman now? ›

He is currently signed to WWE under a legends contract, and is an aerobics instructor.

Who is the villain in Boogeyman? ›

Written by Eric Kripke, Juliet Snowden, and Stiles White, from a story by Kripke, the film is a new take on the classic "boogeyman", or monster in the closet, who is the eponymous antagonist of the film. The plot concerns a young man, Tim Jensen, who must confront the childhood terror that has affected his life.

What monster is twyla boogeyman? ›

Twyla Boogeyman is a 2013-introduced and all-around character. She is a freshman student at Monster High and is a boogeyman, daughter of the Boogey Man, she lives in the Boogey Mansion, a manor maze in New Salem, and beginning of her first introduction as a new character, the same age as Howleen Wolf, which is 14.

What species is The Boogeyman? ›

It is thought that the boogeyman was originally a reference for mischievous creatures called hobgoblins. Throughout much of Europe, hobgoblins are actually quite friendly or limited to light-hearted pranks, but there are tales of hobgoblins who were much more vile in nature.

Were the worms real in Boogeyman? ›

For those wondering, The Boogeyman does indeed eat real worms for his WWE stints. In an interview, Marty Wright, who played the character, stated that he was willing to eat other creepy crawlies like maggots, crickets, and roaches.

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