"Don't Think It, Don't Say It": Why The Bye Bye Man Needs A Redo
The Bye Bye Man's «Don't Think It, Don't Say It» tagline promised a much creepier film than the 2017 horror delivered, but here's why the concept needs another chance. Urban legends and creepypastas have served as the basis for some great horror movies, from the original Candyman to Black Christmas and Syfy horror anthology Channel Zero. Sadly, The Bye Bye Man can't be counted among those entries, despite its intriguing premise.
The original concept for The Bye Bye Man came from Robert Damon Schneck's book The President's Vampire, which explored famous urban legends. The movie's story involves a group of friends who discover the titular supernatural being, who can spread like a virus when its name is mentioned, which is where the famous "Don't Think It, Don't Say It" warning comes from. On the surface, The Bye Bye Man should have a lot going for it, including an eerie central hook, plus a cast that included Carrie-Anne Moss, Faye Dunaway, Leigh Whannell and the great Doug Jones as the title creature.
Related: Every Leigh Whannell Horror Movie (As Director, Writer & Actor)
Unfortunately, The Bye Bye Man never lives up to its potential. The film is hurt by poor performances, ineffectual scares and the fact the mythology behind the movie's stalker is poorly explained. Despite almost universally negative reviews, The Bye Bye Man was still a modest hit and grossed over three times its production budget. This was no doubt aided by The Bye Bye Man's «Don't Think It, Don't Say It» marketing, but — ironically — word of mouth likely killed any chance of a sequel. While a direct follow-up isn't needed, The Bye Bye Man urban legend itself could use a redo.
The Bye Bye Man is a case where a monster with a lot of potential found
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