Boogeyman (2005)

February 4, 2005 (US) • Thriller, Horror, Drama, Mystery • 89m

Overview

Every culture has one – the horrible monster fueling young children's nightmares. But for Tim, the Boogeyman still lives in his memories as a creature that devoured his father 16 years ago. Is the Boogeyman real, or did Tim make it up to explain why his father abandoned his family?

Director

Stephen Kay

Writers

Juliet Snowden, Stiles White, Eric Kripke

Top Billed

Barry Watson

Keywords

nightmare hallucination childhood trauma break-up hometown psychotherapy nightmare becomes reality horrified informative

Where to watch

Free / Included

MovieSphere+ Amazon Channel

Howdy Amazon Channel

Top Billed Cast

Barry Watson

Tim

Emily Deschanel

Kate Houghton

Lucy Lawless

Tim's Mother

Skye McCole Bartusiak

Franny Roberts

Tory Mussett

Jessica

Louise Wallace

Jessica's Mom

Andrew Glover

Boogeyman

Charles Mesure

Tim's Father

Robyn Malcolm

Dr. Matheson

Philip Gordon

Uncle Mike

Aaron Murphy

Young Tim

Jennifer Rucker

Pam

Scott Wills

Co-Worker

Michael Saccente

Jessica's Dad

Brenda Simmons

Jessica's Grandma

Josie Tweed

Jessica's Sister

Ian Campbell

Franny's Father

Olivia Tennet

Terrified Girl

Eddie Campbell

Priest

Andrew Eggelton

Jessica's Brother-in-Law

Crew

John Axelrad

Editor

Miranda Gooch

Casting

Sam Raimi

Producer

Marie Adams

Casting

Joseph Drake

Executive Producer

Lynn Kressel

Casting

Bobby Bukowski

Director of Photography

Jane Holland

Costume Design

Hayley Stent

Stunt Double

Nick Bassett

Art Direction

Jill Cormack

Set Decoration

Jackie Gilmore

Set Decoration

Robert Gillies

Production Design

Philip Ivey

Art Direction

Jennifer Ward

Art Direction

Steve McQuillan

Stunt Coordinator

Kirsty Griffin

Still Photographer

Gavin Stroud

Additional Camera

Fraser Harvey

Construction Foreman

Dave Whitehead

Supervising Sound Editor

Tim Prebble

Sound Designer

Gethin Creagh

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Karsten Kastelan

Publicist

Dave Whitehead

Sound Designer

Peter Mills

Sound Effects Editor

Michael Hedges

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Edward Trost

Visual Effects Producer

Sue May

Publicist

Jack Schuster

Post Production Supervisor

Brent Gilmartin

Visual Effects Supervisor

George Port

Visual Effects Supervisor

Clayton Tikao

Location Manager

Sean Button

Stunts

Stephen Kay

Director

Juliet Snowden

Screenplay

Ray Beentjes

Supervising Dialogue Editor

Stiles White

Screenplay

Joseph LoDuca

Original Music Composer

Paul Grinder

Second Unit Director

Viv Kernick

Property Master

Chris Todd

Dialogue Editor

Robyn McFarlane

Sound Recordist

Carrie McLaughlin

Foley

Roger Guise

Art Direction

Vanita Thomas

Makeup & Hair Assistant

Susie Glass

Hair Supervisor

Hayley May

Costume Assistant

Anna Bosley

Costume Standby

Mark Teirney

Lighting Technician

Marjory Hamlin

Makeup Supervisor

Brenden Holster

First Assistant Camera

Simon Ambridge

First Assistant Director

Deb Watson

Key Hair Stylist

Olivia Dobson

Set Costumer

Evan Pardington

Best Boy Grip

Gareth Robinson

Grip

Susie Glass

Makeup Supervisor

Terri Kilmartin

Second Unit First Assistant Director

Caroline Liem

Casting Associate

Aaron Morton

Second Unit Director of Photography

Deb Watson

Key Makeup Artist

Ruru Reedy

Electrician

Scott Harman

Lighting Technician

Marjory Hamlin

Hair Supervisor

Sandy Holt

ADR Voice Casting

John Bell

Lighting Technician

Dale Elena McCready

Steadicam Operator

Dianne Moffatt

Script Supervisor

Andrew McGeorge

First Assistant Camera

Eric Kripke

Co-Producer

Eric Kripke

Screenplay

Stuart Thorp

Stunts

David Pollison

Production Assistant

Tracey Wilson

Storyboard Artist

Doug Lefler

Co-Producer

Nathan Kahane

Executive Producer

Gary Bryman

Executive Producer

Steve Hein

Executive Producer

Carsten H.W. Lorenz

Executive Producer

Robert Tapert

Producer

Collection

Boogeyman Collection

Boogeyman

Boogeyman 2

Boogeyman 3

Reviews

Andre Gonzales

⭐ 8/10

May 1, 2023

Everyone is afraid of the boogeyman. I really like this movie. I love a good horror flick.

Wuchak

⭐ 6/10

February 25, 2026

**_What if the monster-in-the-closet is real?_**

This was inspired by J-horror flicks like “The Ring” and “The Grudge.” It has the creepy nighttime atmosphere, psychological dread and possible elements of the supernatural of those movies. The slow-burn story is uncomplicated with only a few characters, focusing on the traumatized protagonist (Barry Watson) and his return to his childhood Victorian home on a rural road.

One criticism is that viewers never learn who or what the boogeyman is, what his particular beef with Tim is and what his powers are. After watching, I read screenwriter Eric Kripke’s explanation of what was really happening, but his story was embellished by a couple of additional writers and possibly the director, not to mention producers. As such, there are too many things in the story that contradict Kripke’s original idea.

Nevertheless, I was able to come up with an explanation that makes sense of all the clues. So, Kripke might think that too many cooks spoiled his broth, but the committee of writers was able to come up with an interesting reason behind the happenings, sort of like “Wendigo” did four years earlier. It’s just that you have to put the pieces of the puzzle together and some people don’t want to make the effort.

“Boogeyman” was a surprise modest hit when released and led to two direct-to-video sequels, the first one taking place at a mental hospital in Los Angeles (2007) and the other at a dorm in NorCal (2009). The sequels are self-contained with only a tip of the hat to this one.

It runs 1h 29m and was shot in the summer of 2003 in the Auckland area of New Zealand, including Dyke Road, Karaka, which is just south of there (Tim’s childhood home), not to mention Tuakau Bridge on the Waikato River, which is 25 minutes further south.

GRADE: B-

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Recommended Movies

Utopia Ltd.

The Endless

Bagman

The Old Woman at the Back

Status

Released

Original Language

Budget

$20,000,000

Revenue

$67,192,859

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Boogeyman (2005)

Juliet Snowden, Stiles White, Eric Kripke

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Collection

Boogeyman Collection

Boogeyman

Boogeyman 2

Boogeyman 3

Reviews

Andre Gonzales

Wuchak

Recommended Movies

Utopia Ltd.

The Endless

Bagman

The Old Woman at the Back

Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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