(SHORT)
Rating:
Director: Scott Patch
Producer: Scott Patch
Writer: Scott Patch
Director of Photography:
Cast: Bryson Lang, Joy Lang
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THE BOOGEYMAN'S BIRTHDAY (SHORT) Rating: Director: Scott Patch Producer: Scott Patch Writer: Scott Patch Director of Photography: Cast: Bryson Lang, Joy Lang |
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Review by: Warren
Curry
2/3/03
Who would've thought that the legendary Boogeyman would have lavender colored skin, bad teeth, pointy ears and an Australian accent? According to writer/director Scott Patch's short, The Boogeyman's Birthday, the notorious tormentor of children is just that, not to mention a lonely person who wants nothing more than to find a friend to share his 100,000th birthday with. This charming, children's-oriented film follows the Boogeyman's quest for a companion with whom he can spend the special day, and manages to avoid being overly precious or sappy while telling its uplifting (in its own offbeat way) tale.
During the course of the 9-minute running time, we watch The Boogeyman (Bryson Lang) as he progresses from scaring young ones in the middle of the night to enjoying the warmth and comfort of female companionship. We see The Boogeyman in action, creeping out of closets and from underneath beds to do his job, but our protagonist also serves as a narrator, speaking directly into the camera to clearly explain his plight. Having been friendless for far too long, The Boogeyman does his best to concoct a plan to endear himself to the children he previously haunted, but to no avail. Just as it appears that he'll be turning the big 1-0-0-0-0-0 with no one to help him celebrate, he has a chance encounter with none other than the Tooth Fairy (Joy Lang). The Tooth Fairy is overjoyed that another living creature can actually see her, and thanks to this random meeting, the seeds of romance are planted.
Bryson Lang, disquieting appearance and all, is very sympathetic and likeable in the lead role, and the different children who play victims of The Boogeyman's scare tactics all do serviceable jobs of acting troubled in the face of potential danger (i.e. there's a lot of piercing screams). Patch is a fairly straightforward storyteller, but throws in a few montages to juice up the narrative flow. The film's content is elementary enough to be understood by children, but not in a pandering way that will necessarily turn off adults (although cynics may find the film a bit silly).
The Boogeyman's Birthday should be welcome at any festivals that are (or have programs) geared toward children. While it doesn't possess any features that particularly stand out, it's a well-crafted short that's simple and sweet…but not too much of either quality.
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