The Boy

An American woman takes a job as a nanny in a remote English village, only to discover that the child she is caring for is a life-sized doll. Her employers treat the doll as if it were their son, and when she violates a list of strict rules, terrifying events begin to unfold. She must then figure out if the house is haunted or if the doll itself is alive.

The Boy received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Lauren Cohan's performance and the film's atmosphere, but criticized its predictable plot and reliance on jump scares. Audiences were similarly divided, with some finding it effectively creepy and others deeming it underwhelming.

• Praised for its unsettling premise and Cohan's committed performance.

• Criticized for predictable scares and a convoluted explanation for the horror.

• The atmosphere is effectively built, but the payoff is often disappointing.

Google audience: Google users found the film to be creepy at times, with some appreciating the doll aspect and the suspense. However, many felt the plot was weak and the ending anticlimactic, leading to disappointment.

The doll used in the film, Brahms Heelshire, is designed to look like a Victorian-era child and required a puppeteer to operate its subtle movements, adding to its uncanny effect.