Boogeyman movie review, Stephen T. Kay, Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Lucy Lawless, Robyn Malcolm, Charles Mesure, Tory Mussett. Review by Rob Blackwelder ©SPLICEDwire
Rent DVDs From NetFlix Buy movies From Amazon Buy Posters From AllPosters

SPLICEDwire content is available for print, web, radio & PDA starting at just $99/month!
STUDIOS' STINKER SNEAK ATTACK
A scene from 'Boogeyman'
Buy movie posters at AllPosters.com
Courtesy Photo
"Boogeyman"
__stars
89 minutes | Rated: PG-13
WIDE: Friday, February 4, 2005
Directed by Stephen T. Kay

Starring Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Lucy Lawless, Robyn Malcolm, Charles Mesure, Tory Mussett



 OTHER REVIEWS/COMING SOON
  Deja vu: "They"
Deja vu: "Darkness Falls"
  • Stephen T. Kay
  • Barry Watson
  • Emily Deschanel
  • Skye McCole Bartusiak
  • Lucy Lawless


  •  LINKS for this film
    Official siteTrailer
    at movies.yahoo.com
    at Rotten Tomatoes
    at Internet Movie Database
    Hollywood hides movies from critics hoping to make a few million before the masses find out bad movies are bunk

    By Rob Blackwelder
    Friday, February 4, 2005

    If you're looking for a review of "Boogeyman" in your newspaper this morning, you're not going to find one -- in any newspaper anywhere. Opening in theaters nationwide today, the movie has been kept hidden from critics because, to be blunt, the studio thinks it's garbage and wants to rake in as much money as it can before word gets out.

    Of course, nobody will admit to this at Screen Gems, which is releasing "Boogeyman." But it's no coincidence that every movie Hollywood doesn't screen in advance -- either by not holding previews until the night before opening or not holding them at all -- is largely lambasted once critics and audiences have caught up with it.

    Every year in late January/early February, and again in late August/early September, studios traditionally dump their worst offerings onto the market, hoping the lack of new big-draw blockbusters will translate into profits for any new movie with heavy TV advertising -- which is why you probably haven't been able to escape "Boogeyman" ads in the last two weeks.

    In 2004 for example, nine movies were released without screenings (which may be a record), including "Alien vs. Predator," "Exorcist: The Beginning" and "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid" in August alone, and "The Cookout" and "Paparazzi" one week later.

    And with the strategy working better than ever -- the five aforementioned titles took in more than $180 million collectively despite huge drop-offs in ticket sales after bad word of mouth -- Hollywood hucksters will likely be encouraged to continue cranking out crappy movies and hiding them from critics, counting on suckers to make them rich.

    Whether you give a hoot what critics have to say or not, you should regard the lack of Friday morning reviews to be a huge red flag when considering shelling out $8 to $10 for the latest heavily-hyped wannabe blockbuster. Because when that happens, it's not some cinema snob with a newspaper byline telling you the movie is rubbish -- it's the people who made the movie admitting to it themselves and just hoping you're not smart enough to listen.






    Buy from Amazon
    More new releases!
    or Search for





    SEARCH SPLICEDwire
     
    powered by FreeFind
    SPLICEDwire home
    Online Film Critics Society
    ©SPLICEDwire
    All Rights Reserved
    Return to top
    Current Reviews
    SPLICEDwire Home