THE BYE BYE MAN (2017) Movie Review
How much control do we have in life?
Proverbs 16:9 - "We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." (NLT)
The Bye Bye Man reminds me of a popular question and test of character:
"Would you rather be forgotten or hatefully remembered?"
I take issue with this question. If I die with either of those legacies to my name, then I have failed as a minister. Both options are unacceptable. My only option in this life is to mirror Christ's legacy as influentially as possible. It is a Christian's god ordained purpose to save souls. Period.
The Bye Bye Man on the other hand takes no issue with leaving behind a terrifying legacy. In fact, his very survival depends on it. Those who hear or speak his name forfeit their souls to him. There is no escape. There is no loophole. The only alternative option is murder/suicide. To escape him, one must take control and make the kill first. Otherwise, the name would spread and more people suffer.
Proverbs 26:20 - "Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops." (NLT)
If there is ever a man who wishes he could take back something he says it is Elliot, an ambitious college student with a bright future and several people dear to his heart. He and John, his best friend, and Sasha, his girlfriend, rent a charming fixer upper. With it they inherit a curse after reading three simple words carved into a stand: Bye Bye Man. In a moment of thoughtlessness, he utters the name to John and Sasha while completely unaware of the damage it would cause.
What's worse, he can't let it go. He digs into the history of the name and discovers a archived new report, a stack of papers that should remain forgotten. The name spreads More people hear the name. More people die. Elliot loses control of the spreading name.
The more he loses control, the more desperate he becomes to fix his mistakes. He hunts down a past survivor to learn her secrets. He tries to outsmart the villain by denying his fear. He tries to save his friends. However, he learns too late that there is no way to control The Bye Bye Man. There is no winning.
Psalm 78:4 - "We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders." (NLT)
The Bye Bye Man is a story about the spread of evil over a long period of time. It cannot be controlled. It cannot be erased. This is true. Evil is ever-present in the world. Instead of spreading evil, let us focus on spread good. Spread the word of God. Spread love. Spread hope. Spread peace. Spread the Good News.
God loves you and wants you with him. Through the blood of Christ, you can have a place with him. No matter what horrors befall you in this life, glory awaits in the next. Accept God, and you shall be saved.
