Is The Boy Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, The Boy is likely a skip if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 105 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
The Boy Review
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Detailed Premise & Narrative Foundations
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2015, The Boy emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Horror, Thriller domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of An intimate portrait of a 9 year old sociopath as he discovers his taste for killing. Unlike standard genre fare, The Boy attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a conventional take on its central themes.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Boy features a noteworthy lineup led by David Morse . Supported by the likes of Rainn Wilson and Jared Breeze , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Boy (2015) is mixed. With an audience rating of 5.7/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
The Boy Plot Summary & Detailed Storyline
Quick Plot Summary: The Boy is a Drama, Horror, Thriller film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
The Boy Ending Explained & Final Analysis
Ending Breakdown: The Boy attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Boy reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Boy?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Drama films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
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Full Cast & Crew of The Boy
- David Morse – John
- Rainn Wilson – William Colby
- Jared Breeze – Ted Henley
- Bill Sage – Sheriff Deacon Whit
- Mike Vogel – Dad
Top Highlights
David MorseJohn
Rainn WilsonWilliam Colby
Jared BreezeTed Henley
Bill SageSheriff Deacon Whit
Mike VogelDad
Zuleikha RobinsonMom
Aiden LovekampBen
David ValenciaMarcus
Andrés EchavarríaClayton
Amalia Santa MariaJennifer
Where to Watch The Boy Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoParents Guide & Age Rating
The Boy has not been officially rated yet. Based on its genres (Drama, Horror, Thriller), it contains frightening scenes, intense suspense, mature themes, violence.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 5.7/10, and global collection metrics, The Boy stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2015 cinematic year.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Boy movie hit or flop?
The Boy has received mixed reviews with a 5.7/10 rating, making it a moderate success with the audience.
Is The Boy worth watching?
The Boy is a mixed bag. It might be worth watching if you're a fan of Drama, Horror, Thriller movies, but read reviews first.
Where can I watch The Boy online?
The Boy may be available for rent or purchase on digital platforms like Apple TV, Google Play, or Amazon Prime Video. Specific streaming availability can vary by country.
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How The Boy Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Boy
> A look at a boy's behaviour who was isolated from the society. The entire setting reminds us the movie 'Psycho'. More or less it could have had made a good prequel to that, like the portrayal of Norman Bates' childhood. As an independent film from any previous narrative, it was quite good actually. Inspired by a novel that tells the story of a 9 year old boy who runs a motel with his father in a nowhere. In a lonely place where the customers are very rare, how the boy develops his behavious without social consciousness is what this movie is. Trust me, realism means this movie, but there's always flaws in a small budget film like this. If you always scan for logic, you can't enjoy any movie even in small quantity. Empty your thoughts and get into it, then there's a chance you might like it. I'm not saying it'll become your favourite, but the depiction was so good which was quite similar to the recent Austrian movie 'Goodnight Mommy'. It is not a horror, but a thriller-drama. A terrifying theme, that means terror-horror, thus it called horror. Other than that there's no supernatural or sci-fi things in it. It was a decent movie to me, I felt it was slightly underrated. The turnaround in the storytelling was very good yet predictable stuff. The filmmaker must bring a sequel for it, otherwise I'll be very disappointed. 6/10
You gotta see this movie if for no other reason to watch Jared Breeze play a pre-teen sociopath. Suppose to be the first part of a trilogy following the development of this cold blooded killer. The next movie focuses on the teenager and then the final would be his adult adventures. If they wait long enough Jared could be cast as the teenager. You can also watch him on the CBS daytime soap The Young and the Restless! Fun movie, I hope they continue with the trilogy.
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This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
