Oh boy, oh boy does this movie actually exists? Sometimes people do all the wrong things and they still manage to create something worth watching. The Boy is so clichéd that the whole thing actually started to work to its advantage. Creepy doll – check, one hot single female (unfortunately not a lawyer) – check, a creepy mansion in the English countryside – check, old creepy couple with a secret – check, one charming love interest – check… I could go on and on, but the point is that this movie creates a really intense (and creepy) atmosphere and uses all these clichés so carefully that you have to admire the skill with which they pulled this off. With the story set in this ginormous mansion with squeaky floors, doors, and windows, the sense of claustrophobia and isolation was real. The actors did a magnificent job, especially the lead, Lauren Cohan, or Maggie from The Walking Dead series. The strange script, confusing characters, and still, she managed to nail it, unfortunately, while remaining fully clothed.
Greta finally did it, she arrived in England and is about to meet her new employers, a lovely older couple who need a babysitter desperately. Living in the huge mansion in the countryside should be a nice change of pace for Greta, who’s looking to get away from a troubling ex-boyfriend. However, Mr. and Mrs. Heelshire did not disclose to her that the boy that she’s supposed to be babysitting is not a boy at all…
The director William Brent Bell figured out that you don’t need big scenes to get that creepy and scary vibe; you just need one creepy doll. Of course, two more things needed to be really good: Camera and Sound. And they were spot on. Sure, the story is predictable and although there are twists, they are something that we have seen before. And speaking of the story, I must say that I really liked the ending, unlike many other reviewers. For me, it tied the story nicely. The important thing here is the fact that the movie isn’t stretched out or boring but nicely paced as a warm-up horror for a nice bloody binge night. Remember that saying style over substance, well, this time they went substance over style that is substance over style and this infinite loop served them well, enjoy. A sequel for this movie titled Brahms: The Boy II was released in February 2020, so if you want to follow up on our homeboy you can check it out.
Director: William Brent Bell
Writer: Stacey Menear
Cast: Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell, Jim Norton, Diana Hardcastle, Ben Robson, Jett Klyne
Fun Facts: Cast members actually used the doll (“Brahms”) to prank each other on the set. On one occasion, one of the cast members propped the doll up outside of the other actor’s bathroom in their trailer to scare them. Upon seeing this, they hurled the doll outside of their trailer, and the crew had to repair it, and make a replacement doll.
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IMDb Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3882082/
