There are a few things that could be said in defense of **The Bye Bye Man**, if one is attempting to find some small measure of merit in this remarkably unoriginal horror film aimed at teenagers. For one, it continues the tradition of being another quickly forgotten movie destined for obscurity in the annual January glut of low-budget fright films. Secondly, the film’s title is admittedly catchy (though most will probably consider it silly). Otherwise, there's little to recommend about **The Bye Bye Man** beyond its dullness, which makes enduring it a chore. Interestingly, **The Bye Bye Man** comes from the husband-wife team of screenwriter Jonathan Penner and director Stacy Title. Title, who has worked on several unremarkable horror features including 2007’s _Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror_ and 1999’s _Let the Devil Wear Black_, shows little creativity here; her direction feels lifeless and contributes to the film's cheap feel. Penner, mostly known for appearing three times on the reality TV series _Survivor_ (2000-present) and once as an Academy Award nominee, delivers a weak script that fails to explore the psychological motivations it seems to want to address. Ultimately, **The Bye Bye Man** lacks substance and originality, resulting in a predictable thrill ride. The film begins with a jarring scene of a man wielding a shotgun killing people while repeatedly warning his victims – or perhaps reminding himself– to “Don’t think it, don’t say it!”. This phrase is repeated throughout the sequence set in rural Wisconsin during the late 1960s. The story then jumps to modern-day Wisconsin, where some college students move into a rundown house near their university. Sweethearts Elliott and Sasha (Douglas Smith and Cressida Bonas) and their friend John (Lucien Laviscourt) take up residence in the decaying building. It doesn’t long before Elliott finds a message scrawled on the furniture: “Don’t think it, don't say it!”. He also encounters the mysterious figure known as The Bye Bye Man. A fourth friend, goth girl Kim (Jenna Kennell), joins them and her knowledge of the occult helps to unleash the strange haunting associated with the film’s title. Naturally, Elliott wants to learn more about The Bye Bye Man and seeks out a journalist who survived an encounter with him in the 60s. This journalist explains the legend behind what drives The Bye Bye Man's violent actions: avoid mentioning his name or thinking about him, and you might survive. Otherwise, you’re doomed. Simple as that. Sadly, **The Bye Bye Man** is a muddled film with little substance. It attempts to create an unusual mythology and tries to delve into the twisted motivations behind mass murder. However, the thrills are obvious, relying on cheap CGI effects and disposable characters who elicit unintentional laughs when they meet their end. The film’s originality is comparable to finding blood bags at a local donation center. Title and Penner have created a feeble horror movie that never rises above its reliance on the repetitive catchphrase “Don’t think it, don't say it!”. The mystery surrounding The Bye Bye Man’s killings is less perplexing than why veteran actress Faye Dunaway appears as the widow of the man who refuses to be named; her character offers little explanation for the strange events unfolding around her. She survived _Mommie Dearest_, so perhaps she could survive this, too…or maybe not! **The Bye Bye Man** (2017) STX Entertainment 1 hr. 36 mins. Starring: Douglas Smith, Cressida Bonas, Lucien Laviscourt, Jenna Kanell, Doug Jones, Faye Dunaway, Carrie-Anne Moss, Erica Tremblay Directed by: Stacy Title MPAA Rating: PG-13 Genre: Horror Critic’s rating: * 1/2 stars (out of 4 stars) (c) **Frank Ochieng** 2017

Source on TMDB