The Legend of "The Boogeyman" Goes Back For Centuries, but What Does It Look Like? (2024)

The new horror movie "The Boogeyman" adapts both a Stephen King short story and a centuries-old piece of folklore. You've probably heard about the boogeyman before — or maybe it was even something that frightened you as a child — but how much do you know about the origins of this common monster story?

What Is the Boogeyman?

The boogeyman is a generic monster, used throughout history, as a means of frightening children against misbehavior. There are plenty of other names that the creature has been given, including "bogeyman," "bugabear," or "bugaboo." Different cultures, and even different groups or families within a given culture, have different conceptions of the boogeyman. In general, though, the idea is that it is a monster that will come after individuals (usually children, given the context of the mythology) who misbehave and frighten them into behaving better.

Is the Boogeyman Real?

The boogeyman is not real, but most cultures have some version of the boogeyman myth, although they go by many, many different names. The actual "boogeyman" name most likely originated sometime in the 19th century, but the mythology of these kinds of "monsters" have been around for much longer than that. Like many other creatures of myth and fairy tale, they most likely evolved as part of cultural practices to teach children lessons, such as how to behave, respect authority figures, avoid common dangers, and so on.

What Does the Boogeyman Look Like?

Because there are so many different variations on the boogeyman mythos, there are many different descriptions of what the monster supposedly looks like. The majority have standard-issue "monster" physical traits, such as claws and sharp teeth or other animal-like features. They usually have a somewhat humanoid form (usually male-appearing) combined with these supernatural or animal features to make them more haunting. Some of them might conceal their faces or wear a cloak or hood, making them look even more mysterious and frightening.

In different myths, the boogeyman may be more or less monstrous-looking depending on its purpose. The more mischievous or scary-but-harmless versions are likely to be described in less grotesque terms than the ones that have more violent mythos.

Stephen King's "The Boogeyman" Summary

It's unsurprising that the king of horror, Stephen King, took inspiration from boogeyman mythology for one of his own stories. The movie version of "The Boogeyman," which hits theaters on June 2, is adapted from King's 1973 short story of the same name. The story features a framing device in which the main character, Lester Billings, visits a psychiatrist, Dr. Harper, to talk about the mysterious and traumatizing deaths of his children. According to Lester, his first two children both died under strange circumstances that were found to be tragic but coincidental and unrelated. The only thing they had in common was that both shouted, "Boogeyman!" before being left alone, and a closet door was found open in their rooms after their deaths.

When Lester's wife, Rita, finds out she's pregnant again, they decide to move far away in hopes of leaving their tragic past behind. Lester still fears that the monster will track them down, and things take a very creepy turn from there, complete with a final major twist in the story. The film version gives the story a fresh twist, focusing on two sisters and their recently-widowed father (a therapist) as they come into contact with a malevolent entity. King's take on the mythology draws on the versions of the monster that do actual harm, rather than just frightening people, but it's far from the only version of the "boogeyman" story out there.

The Legend of "The Boogeyman" Goes Back For Centuries, but What Does It Look Like? (2024)

FAQs

What does The Boogeyman look like? ›

The Boogeyman has no specific appearance and conception of it can vary drastically from household to household within the same community.

What is the legend of The Boogeyman? ›

The Boogeyman is a shadowy, amorphous ghost who hides in dark places in order to frighten unsuspecting victims. He's more of a nuisance than a danger, and his power is easily neutralized by bright light. His name probably originates from Middle English bugge, meaning “something frightening.”

How was The Boogeyman described? ›

Bogeymen have no specific appearances and conceptions vary drastically by household and culture, but they are most commonly depicted as masculine or androgynous monsters that punish children for misbehaviour. The bogeyman, and conceptually similar monsters can be found in many cultures around the world.

Is The Boogeyman good or bad? ›

The Boogeyman is an easily forgettable horror movie that struggles to deliver genuine scares or explore emotional depth. Its derivative and predictable nature, underdeveloped characters and slow-paced plot contribute to its lacklustre impact.

Who was the real Boogeyman in real life? ›

Albert Fish

Where is The Boogeyman now? ›

He is currently signed to WWE under a legends contract, and is an aerobics instructor. Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.

What is The Boogeyman physical description? ›

It may have claws or nails to scratch against doors or windowpanes, glowing eyes that can be seen in the dark, or horns like an animal. In other cultures, the bogeyman may have a more specific appearance or a recognizable role or belong to another species.

What is Boogeyman age? ›

Martin (Marty) Wright (July 15, 1964) is an American professional wrestler known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) under the ring name The Boogeyman.

What is The Boogeyman's weakness? ›

Fire is the Boogeyman's weakness, as it stays in the shadows and fears light. Humans can wield fire to combat the creature. The Boogeyman preys on emotionally vulnerable victims, primarily targeting children.

Who killed Boogeyman? ›

Actually, in the movie it is mentioned that there was another mafia who was called Baba Yaga/The Boogeyman. John Wick was hired to kill him which he obviously did after which he was know as the Boogeyman.

Who can beat Boogeyman? ›

A tough-as-nails brawler from Belfast, Finlay was not afraid of the dark and went at the scary Superstar head on. Thanks to his experience and some outside help from his son, Hornswoggle, Finlay was able to defeat Boogeyman on many occasions.

Is The Boogeyman a person? ›

The Boogeyman is the personification of a creature who attacks children for perceived bad behavior. Stories of its existence are usually told to children by adults to scare them in an attempt to prevent them from misbehaving.

Who was The Boogeyman in John Wick? ›

Basil Iwanyk and Derek Kolstad's action thriller franchise John Wick follows Keanu Reeves' titular and stylish assassin feared throughout the Russian criminal underworld as Baba Yaga — John Wick's nickname — which supposedly means boogeyman.

What was the monster in Boogeyman? ›

The Boogeyman is the titular main antagonist of the 2023 horror film The Boogeyman, based off the Stephen King short story of the same name. It is a monster of unknown origin that targets and murders entire families, usually ones that have experienced a loss of a family member. For its literary counterpart, see here.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Errol Quitzon

Last Updated:

Views: 5823

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (59 voted)

Reviews: 90% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Errol Quitzon

Birthday: 1993-04-02

Address: 70604 Haley Lane, Port Weldonside, TN 99233-0942

Phone: +9665282866296

Job: Product Retail Agent

Hobby: Computer programming, Horseback riding, Hooping, Dance, Ice skating, Backpacking, Rafting

Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.