critics consensus

A tense, terrifying, and all-around outstanding feature debut for its co-directing duo, The Boy Behind the Door should thrill discerning horror fans. Read critic reviews

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The Boy Behind the Door Photos

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Movie Info

Genre:

horror, mystery and thriller
Original Language:

English
Director:

David Charbonier, Justin Powell
Producer:

Rick Rosenthal, Ryan Scaringe, Jim Hart, John Hermann, Ryan Lewis

Cast & Crew

Lonnie Chavis

Ezra Dewey

Kristin Bauer

Scott Michael Foster

Micah A. Hauptman

David Charbonier
Director

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Boy Behind the Door

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (25)

'The Boy Behind the Door' Is a Terrifying and Realistic Journey. The realism in the story is also profoundly compelling as Bobby tries to meander his way through the old labyrinth-like home searching for his friend, who has been chained and bound.

November 10, 2020 | Full Review…

Aramide Tinubu
Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Boy Behind the Door is a perfectly-executed game of cat-and-mouse, twisting the tension in perfect real time.

November 10, 2020 | Full Review…

Richard Whittaker
Austin Chronicle
It's a delicate and memorably successful balancing act that effectively contextualizes some deliberately challenging material.

October 21, 2020 | Full Review…

Justin Lowe
Hollywood Reporter
"Boy" is one of the most terrifying films I've ever seen, but it refuses to be bleak or cruel, and winds up emerging as a testament to the power of friendship. What a killer directorial debut.

October 15, 2020 | Rating: 4/4 | Full Review…

Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
The Boy Behind The Door is a deeply chilling thriller with a throbbing emotional core.

September 29, 2020 | Full Review…

Kristy Puchko
Pajiba
After enduring this unrelentingly intense, shockingly dark thriller, you're going to need to catch your breath. Charbonier and Powell created one impressively ballsy debut.

September 29, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Meagan Navarro
Bloody Disgusting
That this is a first feature is a massive feat.

February 24, 2021 | Rating: 8/10 | Full Review…

Lindsay Traves
CGMagazine
The Boy Behind the Door will make you feel like a kid again in its thrills and chills.

December 5, 2020 | Full Review…

Stephen Saito
Moveable Fest
A well-crafted, lean and mean thriller that hooks you from the beginning. [Full Review in Spanish]

November 19, 2020 | Full Review…

Nestor Bentancor
Nestor Cine Desde Hollywood
While this film will remind most horror fans of some of their other favorites, it is not a bad start from filmmakers Powell and Charbonier.

November 18, 2020 | Full Review…

Catalina Combs
Black Girl Nerds
Making a gripping, hypnotic feature writing and directing debut, David Charbonier and Justin Powell's The Boy Behind the Door treads some familiar ground, but also breaks into fresh territory with its two protagonists.

November 9, 2020 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…

Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
The Boy Behind The Door is an engrossing, harrowing experience that, in all honesty, might be a bit too much for some audiences. But if you can handle it, then you're in for a visceral, intense ride that you won't soon forget.

October 24, 2020 | Rating: 9/10 | Full Review…

Bobby LePire
Film Threat