David Dastmalchian, of Ant-Man, Suicide Suqad, Dune and Birdbox fame, recently claimed that The Boogeyman — in which he stars — is the scariest film he has seen in a while.
While at a promotional event for his Hulu movie Boston Strangler, Dastmalchian said: “The Boogeyman is, I got to see it. It’s one of the scariest films I’ve seen in a long time.”
The highly anticipated film is an adaptation of horror maestro Stephen King’s acclaimed 1973 short story of the same name. The actor really made the film sound like a nightmare inducer:
“I’m very proud to be a part of it, and I really, I cannot wait for people to get their eyes on this movie.”
The Boogeyman is not the only horror flick Dastmalchian is starring in this year, as he will be seen in Last Voyage of the Demeter, which is based on one specific moment from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. His presence in these two horror titles will also be followed by Late Night with the Devil.
Discussing the films and the influence Stoker might have had on King’s writings he said: “I’m sure Stephen King would acknowledge that his voice was shaped by Stoker in a way. Like I’m sure that that was a huge influence on him as a young person, early reader, and writer. Both of those films are so different from one another and they’re both incredible.
He added: “The performances (in the Boogeyman) are amazing. And then Last Voyage of the Demeter, I have not seen the film yet, but what I have seen doing ADR was incredible. It’s an amazing story. I’m so glad I got to be a part of that one.”
“I think the fact that it’s moved from a streaming platform to a theatrical release is what it needs because it’s the kind of film you wanna see in a packed house where people are screaming and jumping out of their seats,” he said.
He was referring to the fact that the film was set to only be released on Hulu but in January it was decided by 20th Century Studios will give the film a theatrical release after King intervined and pushed for a cinema release.
The movie is directed by Rob Savage, known for his work on Dashcam, and boasts of an impressive cast including Chris Messina, Vivien Lyra Blair, Sophie Thatcher, and Dastmalchian himself. The screenplay was written by the talented team of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, who brought us A Quiet Place, and Mark Heyman, who worked on Black Swan.
The story centers on two sisters, Sadie (Thatcher) and Sawyer (Blair), who are trying to cope with the sudden death of their mother. Their father, Will (Chris Messina), who is a therapist, is also struggling to come to terms with his grief, causing him to neglect his daughters’ emotional needs. When a desperate patient unexpectedly arrives at their house seeking assistance, he leaves behind a horrific supernatural monster that preys on families and feeds on their sorrow. The family dynamic becomes even more strained when Sadie and Sawyer begin to experience strange occurrences in their home. Despite their claims of a malevolent presence, Will dismisses their fears, and the girls are left to face the terrifying entity alone.
King’s original short story has been praised for its ability to frighten readers with its subtle, psychological horror. With the expanded format of a feature film, The Boogeyman has the potential to delve deeper into the characters’ motivations, relationships, and histories. Although much of the plot has been kept under wraps, it’s clear that the filmmakers have taken great care to deliver a movie that honors the source material while also standing on its own as a chilling horror experience.
David Dastmalchian’s part in the film is distinctive in that he plays Lester Billings, who has been demoted from protagonist to supporting character. It appears that the casting is appropriate, as Dastmalchian has stated that he is a huge fan of the great author:
“Stephen King is a very big influence on me as both a writer and storyteller, performer. I’ve always sought a lot of inspiration from him. I think he is one of the great masters. And so the fact that I got to be part of an adaptation of one of his films, and by the way, the writers of The Boogeyman, they are some of the best writers in Hollywood right now, and they crushed it.”
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King is no novice when it comes to having his works adapted for both film and television, with many of them successfully translated from page to screen, including The Shawshank Redemption, Carrie, It: Chapter One, and Misery. Now horror enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the release of The Boogeyman to see how the filmmakers have brought King’s classic tale to life on the big screen.
Only time can tell if the film will be another successful adaptation or if it will fall short of expectations, but one thing is for sure: horror fans are in for a terrifying ride. The Boogeyman is set to make its theatrical debut on June 2.
