Creepy early atmosphere caves under an illogical, goodwill-wrecking twist.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Not streaming in India
Critic consensus
Critical reception for The Boy is largely negative, with most reviewers finding it ineffective as a horror film. The film's early atmospheric setup and the performances of the aged parents received limited praise, though critics felt the movie failed to sustain tension or deliver genuine scares. The twist ending drew the sharpest criticism, with multiple reviewers describing it as illogical, unoriginal, and damaging to whatever goodwill the film had built, with one critic noting it reduced the film to a spoof. The consensus is that The Boy will leave most viewers unaffected and is of interest only to dedicated genre fans.
4 not-rated reviews aren't plotted
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 9 critic reviews · may contain errors
Report inaccuracyFrom the papers
Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
The worst part about The Boy is just when the premise starts to work, thanks in large part to praiseworthy acting by all its main protagonists particularly the boy's aged parents, director Bell loses control.
Top critic
Film review ·
Horror films are the single most exciting movie genre so it's always disappointing when bad horror films show up in theaters. The Boy, directed by William Brent Bell is the new culprit this week.
Film review ·
The Boy is strange, odd and even awkward but we hope the sequel is truly scary... the real deal. SEE ALSO TRIVIA / GOOFS
Film review ·
The Boy is a movie that, if I were to descri-be, would leave you unimpressed. If you went with an open mind, this would be an engaging horror-drama with some interesting gothic imaginings.
Film review ·
If you're looking to be repeatedly scared and shocked, The Boy isn't for you.
Film review ·
The film just can't live up to the challenge of creating a monster out of a doll and all the tricks thereof seems just that - and too feeble and insipid to give you the chills. You are going to be largely unaffected by this one.
Film review ·
From the maker of The Devil Inside and Stay Alive comes another horror story, The Boy, which offers a new take on the overused trend of possessed dolls. For all you horror fans out there, this movie may be entertaining but it surely isn't the scariest one you'll see.
Film review ·
When the twist ending comes, it is so shoddily executed and so unoriginal that The Boy degrades into a spoof. This is one for genre-fans only.
Film review ·
The big twist in the last 30 minutes is almost bizarre. It doesn't add up and nearly undoes the good job its done in parts until then. In a sudden turn of events, it becomes a slasher movie. And as a viewer, who was hoping to see a horror film that rises beyond the generic, we feel cheated.
Credits
Lauren CohanGreta
Rupert EvansMalcolm
Jim NortonMrHeelshire
Diana HardcastleMrsHeelshire
Ben RobsonJames
Jett KlyneYoung Brahms
William Brent Bell
Roy Lee
Gary Lucchesi
Tom Rosenberg
Jim Wedaa
Bear McCreary
Daniel Pearl
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