The Boogens - Intro

While I must admit that as a monster movie, The Boogens (1981) doesn’t quite measure up (its monsters aren’t particularly menacing when eventually revealed), I do respond to its location and characters/actors. I noticed when reading about it how certain fans of My Bloody Valentine (1981) took to The Boogens as well, and I’m similar in that regard. The mine that had been shut down since 1912 appears to be a bit scary but miners in charge of seeing if it can be cleared as operational consider it okay to work inside (you wouldn’t catch me inside it, that’s for sure!). Two guys, Mark and Roger (Fred McCarren and Jeff Harlan), decide to help work in the mine (albeit reluctantly), as Trish (Rebecca Balding) and Jessica (Anne-Marie Martin) are introduced as their romantic love interests. Fans of 80s slasher/horror are familiar with Balding from The Silent Scream (1979) and Martin from Prom Night (1980). One of my favorite GIFs is of Martin taking a drag from a cigarette and I just always find myself smitten with her when she arrives at the prom in the red dress, although she’s a bit hard to like with that attitude and smarm. Balding I loved in The Silent Scream, and I just find her wonderful in The Boogens as well. She just lays a charm on me. Martin has a “blink and you’ll miss her” scene in Halloween II (1981) as well, requesting Shoop to carry her home before going to work at the hospital.

Don't go into the basement!!!