‘The Bogeyman’ (1980) – Ulli Lommel.

One of the most effective lures for a killer 80s slasher is the hypnotic, if not just a little unholy triptych of, (1) Audaciously lurid artwork, (2) evilly ear-worming synth score, and (3) the luminous quality of 'Scream Queen' therein, and Teutonic terror iconoclast, Ulli Lommel scores a perfect horror movie hat trick in his semi-legendary, fully sinister supernatural slasher, 'The Bogeyman'. The memorably lurid image of terror-transfixed, blood-smeared priest, the mesmerizing, hugely influential score by Tim Krog still resonating eerily in the retro-splatter movies of today, and the beguiling charm of the seriously underrated Suzanna Love remains irresistible, and if all that wasn't enough grisly goodness, Lommel's macabre, mirror-spooked shocker has a pleasingly off-key strangeness, wholly undeserving of the erroneous 'Video Nasty' label once deleteriously bestowed upon it.

An especially grim childhood trauma persistently haunts the sedate, rustic adult lives of nightmare-plagued Lacey (Suzanna Love) and mute Wily (Nicholas Love), their bucolic life on the sedate family farm is plunged unceremoniously into a deliriously demonic tumult of marrow-freezing, soul-possessing, scissor-slashing terror as the unbound nightmare from their past morbidly manifests itself as a malevolent supernatural force hell-bent upon the gruesome destruction of any unfortunate enough to suffer under its murderous thrall!

The actor's performances are uniformly excellent, with a delightfully cadaverous-looking cameo from the venerable horror icon, John Carradine lending his signature creepy kudos to poor Lacey's increasingly destructive possession. Director Lommel makes some truly inspired filmmaking choices, imbuing the diabolically plasma-rich proceedings with a grisly multitude of supremely effective, frequently inspired, wince-inducing kills! An almost immaculately twisted, shock-drenched 80s slasher enlivened with one of the all-time classic horror themes by synth supremo, Tim Krog, making absolutely bloody sure that 'The Bogeyman' will DEFINITELY get you! 

‘The Nightmares in Lacey’s mirror are closer than they appear!’ - Weirdlingwolf.

 

 

 

'The Boogey Man got a licence to Boo!'

'The power of ch....sorry, dear! but that starry-eyed gizmo is throwing me off my spiel!'

'Hey!!! That bitching piercing looks hella cool, for '89 you're pushing the glass envelope on tongue adornments into the cosmos, guy!

'Aye! It smarts at first but I no longer snack between meals!'

'FYI I actually thought this would look lame in the movie, but it's actually kinda boss!'