By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

“The Boy” is about a young woman named Greta who comes the England to take the position of a live-in nanny. Running away from a troubled past leads her to the Heelshires. Their son, Brahms, is no ordinary boy; in fact, he’s not a boy at all. He’s a doll.

Putting aside the peculiarities of the family, Greta stays to take care of the doll while accepting their money because she can’t even fathom going back home to face all she’s left.

The movie while it claims itself as a part of the horror genre, is not scary so much as intensely creepy. Besides a few jump scares, the film had no elements to make it a horror movie. If mild apprehension is what viewers are looking for, this is not the movie for them.

With music that threatens of something menacing close by, it is only the suddenness of the change in volume that’ll provide true fear. On screen, Greta experiences the little tricks, like moving clothes around and making phone calls that prove Brahms may still be with them.

However, despite its lack of terror, the movie did have  a certain amount of shock and twists that will surprise all audience members. It was a risk that may not have been the best one to make. Instead of connecting all the dots and finally finding out why all the strange happenings have been going on, the surprises make the plot more confusing, bringing questions instead of answers.

Lauren Cohen plays Greta, the nanny who is running from a troubled past. Cohen stars in “The Walking Dead” and plays her role well despite the movie. She was probably one of the highlights; the audience could follow her from the girl who was insanely creeped out by the family who nurtured a doll to where she began to accept that Brahms may not be gone.

Rupert Evans plays Malcolm, the local grocer who brings the Heelshires their groceries every week. Evans also starred in “Hellboy” and “Agora” which helped him prepare for his role. Malcolm provided a different view of the Heelshires and he seemed to be the only sane person in the entire movie.

While “The Boy” looked promising in trailers, the on-screen version is a disappointment. In the horror movie genre, this film falls flat.

Rating: 1 out of 5 stars