The Boy

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The Boy
Starring Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, Jim Norton, Diana Hardcastle
Directed by William Brent Bell

The Story:
Traveling to England to escape a dark past, Greta (Lauren Cohan) takes the job as a nanny to young Brahms, whose parents (Jim Norton & Diana Hardcastle) are taking a much-needed vacation.  However, after she arrives at their sprawling castle mansion, she learns that Brahms is no ordinary boy - instead, he's a life-sized porcelain doll.  Mr. and Mrs. Heelshire treat the doll like a child, and issues Greta a list of rules and a schedule she has to follow in order to keep Brahms happy.

After they leave, she forms a friendship and relationship with Malcolm (Rupert Evans), a local townsman who delivers groceries to the secluded home.  He tells Greta the history of the real Brahms and what happened to the young boy, and Greta feels she can relate to the situation.

However, things soon start turning spooky.  It starts with seemingly innocent occurrences - her shoes go missing, her dress disappears, footsteps are heard, and so on.  Slowly Greta begins to believe that either the doll is haunted by Brahms' spirit, or she's going insane.  The truth is much more deadlier than even she could've imagined.

The Synopsis:
Director William Brent Bell has been known for producing some halfway decent horror films ("The Devil Inside," "Stay Alive"), and "The Boy" is pretty much his standard - nothing amazing, but nothing disappointing either.  It's a so-so, mediocre horror story with an interesting twist and eerie setting.  If it wasn't for Lauren "The Walking Dead" Cohan, I wouldn't have been so appealed to see it.  However, a film featuring Maggie Greene as the lead was something I couldn't pass up.

Cohan delivers a great performance here, and it's not an easy thing.  She has to carry the entire film on her shoulders, since she has to act mostly by herself and with an inanimate doll prop.  Yet she manages to portray genuine fear and even showcases moments of seemingly insane moments that make you ponder whether or not the doll is indeed inhabited by evil spirits - or Greta is facing her own demons. 

Now for the doll itself.  It's just plain creepy.
 When the ending comes, it comes out of left field and leaves you with an appreciation of what you've seen, even if it isn't a spectacle or anything even remotely unique.  It takes what goofy premise it has, and presses it to the hilt.  

The Summary:
While it's no horror cinematic masterpiece, "The Boy" creates a great mood of dead and insanity with the amazing Lauren Cohan at the lead.

The Score: B+

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