The Bye Bye Man

Well, there are a couple of things that one can praise The Bye Bye Man for in an attempt to give this incredibly unoriginal teen screen horror showcase some flimsy credit. For starters, The Bye Bye Man continues the tradition of being another unforgettable goosebump saga to become meager fodder in the cinematic dumping ground of the new year movie season in January where a majority of flaccid frightening farces go on to linger in obscurity. Secondly, one must admit that the film’s title is somewhat catchy-sounding (okay, most of you may dismiss it as “dumb”). Otherwise, waving off the dullness of The Bye Bye Man is the only satisfaction that warrants one’s indifference to this piece of faceless slasher sludge.

Interestingly, The Bye Bye Man is a collaborative effort by the husband-wife team of screenwriter Jonathan Penner and director Stacy Title. Title, a veteran of a few anemic scare tactic features that include 2007’s Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror and 1999’s Let the Devil Wear Black, shows little imagination here as the direction is woefully stillborn and contributes to the cheaply-made quality of this breathless boofest. Penner, mostly known to American television audiences as a three-time contestant on the long-running reality TV series Survivor (2000-present) as well as a one-time Academy Award nominee, delivers a spotty and mundane script that does not even begin to challenge his intentions on presenting a macabre presentation looking to tackle the meaty psychology of what makes the misguided motivations of man so intriguing. Basically, The Bye Bye Man is banal and has no true backbone on which to ride this amateurish thrill-ride to the formulaic gates of gore.

In confusing fashion, the film’s opening features a shotgun-wielding man mowing down random folks in cold blood. During his carnage he repeatedly warns his unsuspecting prey (or more so convincing himself as a personal reminder) to “Don’t think of it, don’t say it!”. This...

Great movie to watch with your mates and have a good old fashioned "What the Fuck!?".

Final rating:★★ - Had some things that appeal to me, but a poor finished product.

Don't think it! Don't say it! Just watch it!

There's nothing major difference with this and the regular horror flicks, except the internal structure of the tale. For that alone, it is worth a watch. Because they have used it the better way, yet the familiarity gives out everything to its viewers. So sad that you could predict the entire film, despite their best effort to turn it around. The good news is, if you are not a horror film fan, you possibly would enjoy it. But those who love and watch horror films regularly would find it somewhat a waste of time. I was the first one, and I thought it was better than some of the recent big names from the same genre.

Yeah, looks a mix of plenty of films. It was somewhat like 'It Follows', but less complicated. Easy to follow the characters and the story. Though from the beginning itself, it was very intentional. A decent cast and the filmmaking. It could be scary for some viewers, but I found a little edgy and well paced narration. But sadly it did not miss any of the usual horror flick formula. One of the most overused, not just in this film, but any horror films is that those film character interviewing the one of the survivours from the past. So if you don't mind such common usage, it is an acceptable film.

6/10