Boogeyman (1978 film)

Boogeyman is an American independent horror film. The film is set on Halloween day with a few teenagers. A man named Michael Adams kills his older sister on Halloween night 1962. The 1978 film, directed and written by John Carter, was released to theaters in October 1978. It is 91 minutes long.

Plot

On Halloween Night 1962, 6 year old Michael Adams (Tyler James)kills his older sister Debby Adams and is sent to Smith's Grove psychiatric ward but escapes and steals Dr. Adams's station wagon and travels to Haddonfield, Illinois. He stalks his little sister Lauren Strode (Victoria Wilson) threw the (classroom window, behind a bush, and her bedroom window). Lauren goes and babysits Tony Doyle (David Lawler), while her friend Amy Brackett (Jean Grey) babysits Lynda Wallace (Sandy Cheeks) across the street from her. After Amy makes plans to pick up her boyfriend she drops Lynda off to Lauren so she could be with Tony. She gets in her car and Michael POPS out of nowhere and strangles her and slits her throat. Tony sees Michael carrying Amy's body to Lynda's house thinking he is the Boogeyman. Lindsey Van Dor Kok (Torrie Williams) another friend of Lauren goes to Lynda's house with her boyfriend Bobby Sims, after the couple has [...] Michael kills Bobby by stabing him to the wall then makes his way to Lindsey and chokes her with a phone cord. Lauren worries AbOUT her friends' safety due and sends the kids to sleep then walks across the screet. She finds Amy dead with Debby Adams's thombstone, Lindsey and Bobby's dead bodies. she cringes with fear then Michael gaffs her arm letting Lauren fall out of the staircase she is chased to the Doyle house and Lynda and Tony open the door for her she sends the children to hide. then Michael jumps almost stabing Lauren then she jabs a knitting needle into his neck apparently dead. Lauren goes upstairs and finds the children they are okay. Michael follows her she hides the children and hides her self in the closet. Michael finds her Lauren stabs him with his knife apparently dead again she sends the children to the neighbors for help. Dr. Adams finds the children running and screaming out of the house he goes inside. Lauren gets up waiting for them Michael throttles her then Dr. Adams appears and shoots him six times in the heart. He falls off the balcony, he walks up and finds his body missing.

Development

John Carter & Deborah Hill originally wanted to name the film Halloween Night, or The Halloween [...]. But then named it Boogeyman because of Michael wearing a mask. John Carter directed the film. Deborah and him produced it. He wrote the story. He also did the music with a piano. The day and night was set on halloween and the story was set in a fictional town of Haddonfield, Illinois. John Carter spawned a sequel a year later after the film.

Casting

John Carter worked on the cast he worked on the boys and Deborah on the girls. A girl named Chelsea James was going to play the role of Lauren Strode but Deborah chose Victoria Wilson. Another teenager was added to the film named Amy Brackett. she is one of Lauren's friends but she is Lauren's bestfriend in the film. Amy Brackett was played by Jean Grey. SHERIFF Leigh Brackett is Amy Brackett's father in the film and was played by John "Bradshaw" Layfield. Lindsey Van Dor Kok is another friend of Lauren but not her best she was played by Torrie Williams. Dr. Adams is Michael Adams's Uncle and psychiatrist he was played by Dillison McDonald. Michael Adams is Lauren Strode's brother but it is revealed in Boogeyman 2 (1979 film) he was played by Tony Johnson. Bobby Sims is Lindsey's boyfriend in the film and is played by Nathan Sims.

Deaths

  • Debby Adams gets stabed repeatedly.
  • Amy Brackett gets strangled and throat cut.
  • Bobby gets stabed to the wall.
  • Lindsey Van Dor Kok gets strangled with phone cord.

Release

The film was released on October 25, 1978 in 3,297 theaters in North America with a budget of $321,000 the film was one of the most watched movies in the 70s.

Extended EDition

The Extended Edition was released with the Boogeyman 2 DVD release. With alternate scenes not shown in theaters like Dr. Adams in the Psychiatric Ward after his station wagon is stolen and in court. Also Lauren after taking a shower and lending Lindsey a blouse. One more scene was added where Amy is carried by Michael and is seen taken out off the car and thrown in the bed inside the Wallace's house.

Sequels

Boogeyman spawned seven sequels. John Carter only worked with the first three then got tired of it.

Boogeyman 2 was intended to be the last chapter in the Boogeyman series of Michael and Lauren. It spawned Boogeyman 2, Boogeyman III: Season of the Witch, Boogeyman 4: The Return of Michael Adams, Boogeyman 5: The Revenge of Michael Adams, Boogeyman: The Curse of Michael Adams, Boogeyman: B20 20 Years Later and the final sequel Boogeyman: Resurrection.

Then in 2006 it was a remake to the first oiginal named Boogeyman, then spawned a sequel to the remake named Boogeyman II after that it spawned Boogeyman 3D then a sequel to the third named Boogeyman IV. And will spawn a sequel to the fourth film named Boogeyman V in 2010.

References

  • Amy Brackett story at Wikipedia
  • Lauren Strode story at Wikipedia
  • Lindsey Van Dor Kok story at Wikipedia