THE BYE BYE MAN
So, it turns out The Bye Bye Man isn’t going to be making anybody’s Top Ten Horror Movie lists anytime soon. I admit, the first twenty minutes had me interested, but there’s only so much dialogue laced with the word “bro” a grown man can take before calling it a night.
It’s kind of a shame as well. If you manage to swat away the wooden acting, the lack of detail or mythology given for the titular boogeyman, the dragging editorial pace and inconsistent logic (who the hell keeps a black rain slicker hanging up in their room?!), The Bye Bye Man has a pretty good (and timely) premise at its core.
The monster can only reach you if you accept his version of reality: it relies on word of mouth to spread his reach of madness, illusion and homicide. And we all know how subjective, malleable and dangerous reality has become these days. His weapon isn’t a machete, or chainsaw, or floating silver balls with whirling drills aimed at your brain. No, the Bye Bye Man’s weapon is alternate facts. And Jesus, if that’s not a parable for the times, I don’t know what is.
