The Boy (2016 film)

American Greta Evans travels to England after being hired as a nanny by the elderly Heelshires. Upon her arrival, the couple introduce Greta to her charge: a porcelain doll named Brahms that they treat like their son. Over the next day, the Heelshires coach Greta on taking care of Brahms and their house while they are on holiday; leaving her a list of strict rules to follow, including reading to Brahms in a loud, clear voice, playing loud music for him, and putting his food in the freezer if he doesn't eat it, and setting up rat traps outside, to make sure the rats don't get inside the house's walls.

Initially, Greta ignores the rules. She regularly calls her sister Sandy, who tells her that her abusive ex-boyfriend Cole has been trying to find out where she is. Malcolm, the local grocery deliveryman, stops by, and Greta learns that the real Brahms was killed in a fire 20 years ago on his eighth birthday. Malcolm asks Greta out, and she accepts. While preparing for the date, however, her dress and jewelry vanish while she is in the shower; she is lured to the attic by strange noises and locked inside, and is mysteriously let out the next morning. She explains to Malcolm what happened, and they briefly discuss the real Brahms, whom Malcolm says Mr. Heelshire described as "odd."

Strange events begin to occur: a child's sobs are heard in the hallways, phone calls are cut off, and the doll seems to move on its own, vanishing and reappearing elsewhere in the house. After receiving a phone call in which a child's voice urges her to follow the rules, Greta locks herself in her room. She later finds a peanut butter and jelly sandwich outside her door. Believing that Brahms' spirit lives within the doll, Greta begins to take the rules more seriously. Remembering that the Heelshires said Brahms was shy, Greta realizes that the doll only moves when she isn't in the room with him; she demonstrates this to Malcolm, who becomes worried. He informs Greta that a girl Brahms was friends with was found in the forest with her skull crushed. Before the police could question Brahms, the Heelshires' house was burnt down with him in it. Malcolm warns her not to stay, but Greta, having previously suffered a miscarriage after being beaten by Cole, feels obligated to care for Brahms. Elsewhere, the Heelshires write a goodbye letter to Brahms before drowning themselves.

One evening, Cole appears in the house, intending to force Greta back home. For Greta’s safety, Malcolm decides to stay nearby. As she puts Brahms to sleep, Greta asks the doll for help. Cole wakes up and sees a message written in blood urging him to leave. Believing it was done by either Greta or Malcolm, Cole angrily snatches the doll from Greta and smashes it. The house begins to shake and Cole hears noises behind a mirror and investigates. The mirror explodes and knocks Cole to the ground; from a hole behind the mirror, the real, now-adult Brahms wearing a porcelain mask identical to the doll’s face emerges; after apparently surviving the fire, Brahms has been living in the walls of the house. Brahms attacks and kills Cole, then turns on Malcolm and Greta.

As they are pursued, Greta and Malcolm discover Brahms' room; a doll made from Greta's missing dress, hair and jewelry sits in Brahms' bed, and Greta finds the final letter from the Heelshires revealing their plan of leaving Greta as a mate for Brahms. Brahms catches them and knocks out Malcolm, threatening to kill him if Greta leaves. Greta flees, but returns shortly after to save Malcolm. Arming herself with a screwdriver, Greta invokes the rules and forces Brahms to go to bed. He asks for a good night kiss; when he tries to kiss her, she stabs him with the screwdriver. Brahms throws Greta across the room and tries to choke her, but she pushes the screwdriver in deeper and he collapses. Greta rescues Malcolm and they escape the house.

Later, Brahms, who has survived, is seen repairing the shattered doll.

• Lauren Cohan[6] as Greta Evans
• Rupert Evans[7] as Malcolm
• Jim Norton[7] as Mr. Heelshire
• Diana Hardcastle[7] as Mrs. Heelshire
• Ben Robson[7] as Cole
• Stephanie Lemelin as voice of Sandy
• Jett Klyne as young Brahms Heelshire
• James Russell as adult Brahms Heelshire
• Lily Pater as Emily Cribbs

On February 25, 2015, STX Entertainment acquired the US rights to the film and set the film for a February 5, 2016, release, but in March 2015 the release of the film was moved up to January 22, 2016.[11][12]

By October 2018, it was announced that a sequel was in development.[21] Katie Holmes was cast to play Liza, the mother of a young family who, unaware of the dark history, move into the Heelshire Mansion. The premise follows the story of the youngest son finding the porcelain doll, and befriending Brahms. William Brent Bell and Stacey Menear returned as director and screenwriter, respectively. Tom Rosenberg, Gary Lucchesi, Eric Reid, Matt Berenson, Jim Wedaa and Roy Lee served as producers.[22] It was released on February 21, 2020.[23][24][25]

• Official page on Tumblr
• The Boy on IMDb
• The Boy at Box Office Mojo
• The Boy at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Boy at Metacritic