THE BOY is another example of the creepy/subtle/old-fashioned 'ghost story' genre that is now back in vogue with the likes of THE CONJURING, SINISTER, and the INSIDIOUS movies. These go back-to-basics in their approach, eschewing gore effects for more old-fashioned jump scares and general foreboding and creepiness. I find them slightly overrated - the older classics of the genre such as THE UNINVITED and THE HAUNTING are by default much better - but THE BOY is one of the better ones of recent years.
It helps that the story is fresh and simple. The photography is good, with Canadian standing in well for olde England. WALKING DEAD star Lauren Cohan brings her typical understated professionalism to the part of a nanny employed to look after the son of an elderly couple who discovers that the son is in fact a life size doll. Yes, it's creepy doll time again, and while I didn't find the doll in the least bit scary here, at least it looks suitably effective.
The setting is a decent one and Cohan keeps you watching without going over the top. Some of the roles, such as Rupert Evans playing the random love interest, are pretty clichéd. THE BOY is notable for featuring a massive plot twist at the climax which turns the whole story on its head, but I didn't mind it too much; it's not how I would have seen things play out had I written the thing, but it's done quite effectively here.
It helps that the story is fresh and simple. The photography is good, with Canadian standing in well for olde England. WALKING DEAD star Lauren Cohan brings her typical understated professionalism to the part of a nanny employed to look after the son of an elderly couple who discovers that the son is in fact a life size doll. Yes, it's creepy doll time again, and while I didn't find the doll in the least bit scary here, at least it looks suitably effective.
The setting is a decent one and Cohan keeps you watching without going over the top. Some of the roles, such as Rupert Evans playing the random love interest, are pretty clichéd. THE BOY is notable for featuring a massive plot twist at the climax which turns the whole story on its head, but I didn't mind it too much; it's not how I would have seen things play out had I written the thing, but it's done quite effectively here.