THE BOOGEYMAN RETURNS

By: Carl Cortez
Date: Friday, February 04, 2005

Horror comes easy for director Sam Raimi and producer Robert Tapert who haven't forgotten their EVIL DEAD roots as they've become major Hollywood players in TV and film (Raimi after all was responsible for that little superhero franchise SPIDER-MAN).

While horror was pushed aside by the studios in the '90s, it's back in full force now and with their new company Ghost House Pictures, Raimi and Tapert have found a way to channel low budgets by studio standards (the $10 million dollar range) and make highly profitable franchises in the process (THE GRUDGE made over $100 last fall).

Their latest film BOOGEYMAN(directed by Stephen Kay) opens today and stars Barry Watson as Tim, a troubled young adult with a problematic past. Something has been terrifying him since he was a child and he decides to go back to his childhood home and confront that mysterious being in the closet known as "the boogeyman" --- before "the boogeyman" has a chance to get him.

In an exclusive interview, Tapert and Raimi discuss their new horror creation (which they produced) as well as hinting at what's in store with the EVIL DEAD remake.

CINESCAPE: Is there a certain criteria for a movie being a Ghost House Picture?

ROBERT TAPERT: In addition to being really scary, I'm always interested in character and story, that's what attracts me to a project.

CINESCAPE: How many films a year will Ghost House do?


SAM RAIMI: Depending on the year, we hope somewhere between one to three films a year.

CINESCAPE: What was so appealing about THE BOOGEYMAN for you?

TAPERT: At its heart, THE BOOGEYMAN is the story of a young man who is trying to make sense of a dramatic event that took place in his childhood. Everyone has worked to convince him that the event, the Boogeyman taking his father, never happened. We, the audience, take this journey of discovery with this young man, played by Barry Watson, and learn the truth as he does. That is a premise that that I find appealing.

CINESCAPE: What type of horror movie is Boogeyman? It seems very moody and atmospheric?

TAPERT: Stephen Kay, the film's director, has created a world that is very measured and atmospheric. Yet, at the same time, Stephen also delivers great scares and thrills.

CINESCAPE: I'm assuming there's no relationship to this BOOGEYMAN and the BOOGEYMAN movie from the early '80s?

TAPERT: Beyond the title, any similarities are coincidental.

CINESCAPE: Are you looking at BOOGEYMAN as a franchise?

TAPERT: Our only goal in making BOOGEYMAN was that it was a good movie that delivers both an interesting story and cool scares. If this movie finds an audience, I would love to continue to work on stories that further explore the mythology of the Boogeyman and terrify audiences.

CINESCAPE: I read the Grudge cost $10 million and was shocked because I thought it was way more expensive than that. What's the key in keeping the cost down for studio-financed horror films?

SAM RAIMI: Actually, this was not a studio-financed film. Ghost House Pictures finances the films ourselves and then sell the distribution rights. In regards to producing THE GRUDGE, we partnered with producer Taka Ichise and shot the film in Japan, using Taka's system. Taka has produced over thirty films in Japan and has a real talent for really getting great production value for the dollar.

CINESCAPE: How involved will you be with the EVIL DEAD remake?

RAIMI: We want to find a director who will make the film his or her own, with a fresh take on the material. I will be as involved as the new director wants me to be, but I don't want be looking over anyone's shoulder. I want the director of the remake to have the same freedom I had when I was shooting the original.

CINESCAPE: Will Bruce Campbell be in the movie?

RAIMI: No. But we, Rob Tapert, Bruce and I, are looking forward to working together on future projects that will have Bruce in a starring role, which is where he belongs.