The Boogens (1981)

[dcj2112]

I watched this one the other day. Any thoughts on it? It’s a campy 1980’s movie about a couple young miner who awaken a mine monster in Colorado. 

[Alex]

I remember as a young kid seeing this one advertised on TV and wanting to see it, but with it being on a double bill with a film I had no chance of seeing (might have been 'The Last House on the Left', or 'I Spit On Your Grave', something like that anyway), I never did get to. In the years following I couldn't find it on VHS either and it wouldn't be until the early years of the Internet that I was able to find out the name again having forgotten it in the many years since. Anyway, somewhere over 10 years ago I found a website (called something like cinema du fantastique or cinema du bizarre. They are no longer in operation so I guess it doesn't matter) that specialised in hard to get films (normally a transfer straight from VHS), and I was able to get a copy off them.

Was it worth spending 30 years trying to track down a copy? Possibly not. I found it an enjoyable enough 80's horror though and have never quite understood why it was so hard to get a copy of (but then I've never tried to find out why I couldn't find it either). I am not entirely convinced that the monsters were really that terrifying or deadly (some sort of snapping turtles with tentacles I guess?). Fun in its own way, but not an essential watch I thought.

[The Burgomaster]

Never saw it in the theater, but I saw it a few years later on HBO or Showtime or one of those movie channels. I was disappointed.

[RCMerchant]

I have it on dvd with some Cameron Mitchell movie.
I watched both. Neither were that memorible, though at the time I thought the BOOGENS was better.

[retrorussell]

I rather liked it.  Rather silly (especially that title!) and with some annoying characters but for what it was I found it kind of a fun ride.  Dori Doreau from Sledge Hammer is a victim!

[RCMerchant]

The more I think about this movie, the more I recall I really liked it.
I'll have to watch it again!
The movie with Cameron Mitchell was the NIGHTMARE NEVER ENDS (1980). That was ...ugh! 
But it had the Camster, so....! 

[claws]

The Boogens was never released to VHS until the late 1990s. When it had its premiere on tape it was sort of a big deal as I recall (I believe Fangoria did a story on it), plus Stephen King was a fan of the movie.

It's a decent monster flick with a great snow setting, very atmospheric. Glad I bought it on blu a few years ago. Always fun to watch.

[FatFreddysCat]

I saw it on TCM a couple of years ago. I remember liking it quite a bit, though when one of the "creatures" is finally revealed, it was so cheap looking that it was unintentionally funny.

[dcj2112]

I saw it on TCM a couple of years ago. I remember liking it quite a bit, though when one of the "creatures" is finally revealed, it was so cheap looking that it was unintentionally funny.

Yeah with all that build you need a good payoff. We didn't get it.

[Svengoolie 3]

I saw it.  I couldn't help thinking I could probably kill one by sitting on it and letting one rip.  

[Ash]

This is the movie that made me terrified of floor vents and dark basements.

It needs to be remade so bad, but with a better creature design.  One of the cool things about The Boogens is the fact that the creatures are hidden for most of the movie, and it's a great tension builder.
And the title is cool.     

[Alex]

I should dig this one out and see if Kristi would be interested in watching it.