WIP Bogeyman for Hire

Logline: When a cash-strapped primary school teacher takes on a side hustle to raise money
for his sick dog by dressing up as the Bogeyman and scaring misbehaving kids (with full
parental permission). But when a real supernatural entity shows up, the kids he’s been terrorising
might be his only hope to survive the night.

Summary: Bogeyman for Hire is a horror-comedy that blends dark humour, supernatural scares, and the
absurdities of modern parenting. Set in suburban Australia, it follows Dave, a weary teacher who
stumbles into a morally questionable side hustle: scaring misbehaving children for cash-with full
parental sign-off. With mounting vet bills and very few boundaries, things are going great-until a
genuine supernatural force hijacks his gimmick.
As ‘visitation’ stories start piling up and the kids form their own ghost-hunting crew, Dave has to
team up with the very people he’s been scaring to stop something far more dangerous. This project
plays with fear-based discipline, parasocial parenting, and how far you’d go for the dog who loves
you unconditionally.

Tone: Wickedly funny, emotionally grounded, with practical effects and a rich vein of suburban
horror. Equal parts spooky and sweet, where the real scares come from grown-up choices-not just
monsters under the bed.

Target Audience: Teens, young adults, dog lovers, and stressed-out parents who’ve ever wished the
Bogeyman was available on retainer.

Target Fit: This horror-comedy hits that sweet spot: fun, fresh, and full of potential for both
festival and mainstream appeal.
This project has strong streamer appeal: high-concept, funny, and memeable. It plays on the gig
economy, flawed adults, and clever kids – a combination that feels tailor-made for bingeable, online
buzz.
Bogeyman for Hire can lean into either emotional stakes or darker genre elements. With its ‘wrong
thing for the right reason’ moral centre, it fits well into the wheelhouse of elevated,
character-driven stories with a twist.