Compared are the Theatrical Version (PG-13) and the Unrated Version (both available on the US Blu-ray by Universal).

In 1969, journalist Larry kills several people. All of them were aware of The Bye Bye Man. Only by knowing his name, The Bye Bye Man manages to creature horrifying visions which turn those people into killers. Back in the present, Elliot is sharing an apartment with his girlfriend Sasha and their acquaintance John in an old house. In the basement, they find an old nightstand which used to belong to Larry. Elliot notices The Bye Bye Man's name carved in it. At the housewarming party of their new apartment, a seance takes place - lead by psychic Kim. That is when Elliot mentions the name and from that point, every single one of them is being haunted by visions. Elliot tries to figure out a way to lift the curse but he gets caught in The Bye Bye Man's clutches.

Don't think it! Don't say it! Don't watch it?
Shot in 2015, The Bye Bye Man hadn't been released theatrically until the beginning of 2017 and that is never a good sign. In addition to that, there are numerous negative reviews on the internet. But do not worry, the result is not that bad. No doubt, there are issues regarding the content but all in all, it is a solid horror flick. The single elements like a sinister house, a mysterious stranger, horrible visions or several jump scares are all pretty standard but nice implemented in the movie. The back story of The Bye Bye Man is completely missing. Why does he kill people? Why does he have a dog join him? And what about the gold coins and the train? A lot of question and no answers but that is not necessarily a bad thing. It is also weird that Larry tries really hard to eleminate any memory of The Bye Bye Man but he neglects to get rid off the article he wrote himself or the nightstand. And all Elliot comes up with is ditching the nightstand in the woods instead of burning it. Also, the movie has its lengths every now and then. Especially Carrie-Anne Moss as Detective Shaw is rather superfluous here.

For its theatrical release, alterations were made to get a PG-13 instead of an R. Especially the beginning looks incredibly conspicuous because none of Larry's kills are being shows explicitely. In the further course of events, some more violence has been either removed or replaced by alternate and more harmless footage. The sex scene with John and Sasha is much less explicit in the PG-13 version and the scene with John adoring some sleazy shower curtain is missing entirely. Interestingly enough, some (quite harmless) shots have been replaced by slightly alternate ones. Other (harmless) shots are slightly longer. All in all, I would recommend the Unrated because it appears more balanced.

Running Times:

PG-13: 96:24 min
Unrated: 99:48 min

[00:02:44][00:02:44]

PG-13:

For a few frames, one gets to see The Bye Bye Man's face. Then a shot of a train while Larry is calling for Rick.

Unrated:

Larry walks through the door and fires at Jane who is already wounded. He calls for Rick who is crawling on the floor in the living room.

PG-13: 14 sec
Unrated: 41 sec


[00:02:58][00:03:25]

PG-13:

The camera pans across the room.

Unrated:

The Unrated sticks with Larry. He takes a look around.

PG-13: 3 sec
Unrated: 3 sec


[00:03:46][00:04:13]

PG-13:

Another cut to the face of The Bye Bye Man, followed by footage of the train.

Unrated:

Larry shoots Rick.

PG-13: 7 sec
Unrated: 11 sec


[00:04:02][00:04:34]

When Larry is walking by Jane's dead body, the PG-13 zooms in on it. As a result, one does not get to see the body clearly.

no difference


[00:05:07][00:05:39]

The Unrated contains a black screen plus the subsequent shot of the train starts earlier.

Unrated: 23 sec


[00:05:14][00:06:10]

PG-13:

The train longer, followed by a cut to the track and finally back to the train.

Unrated:

The Unrated fades out instead.

PG-13: 5 sec
Unrated: 3 sec


[00:07:05][00:07:58]

The Unrated contains a further pan shot across the room.

Unrated: 3 sec


[00:07:11][00:08:06]

PG-13:

Now, the PG-13 contains a pan shot across the room.

Unrated:

John calls for Elliot who is on his way down. While John is taking a leak, he mentions the tastful shower curtain that has a fisherman having oral sex with a fish on it. Sasha shows up and says she had seen bigger ones. John likes her.

PG-13: 3 sec
Unrated: 39 sec


[00:09:23][00:10:54]

Sasha and John are putting some stuff away when Sasha hears a knocking noise. She walks up to Elliot and asks if he could hear it as well. Elliot turns on the water and it turns out the noise comes from the pipelines.

Unrated: 51 sec


[00:15:27][00:17:49]

Alternate shot of Alice looking behind the door.

PG-13: 4 sec
Unrated: 4 sec


[00:27:15][00:29:37]

Elliot longer, followed by Sasha running up to him.

Unrated: 5 sec


[00:27:18][00:29:45]

Elliot longer once again.

Unrated: 2 sec


[00:29:11][00:31:40]

PG-13:

Cut to John while Kim is getting out of the car. He makes a face.

Unrated:

Kim longer when she is getting out of the car. Cut to John mumbling "Fuck!".

PG-13: 5 sec
Unrated: 5 sec


[00:34:29][00:36:57]

The building slightly earlier.

Unrated: 1 sec


[00:34:55][00:37:25]

Elliot a little longer.

Unrated: 2 sec


[00:46:35][00:49:07]

PG-13:

Larry shoots at the neighbor and reloads.

Unrated:

The Unrated contains alternate footage of the bloody GSW.

PG-13: 3 sec
Unrated: 2 sec


[00:46:39][00:49:09]

PG-13:

The shot of the girl is longer. Larry runs up to her while she grabs something to throw at him.

Unrated:

Alternate shot of Larry plus the girl a little earlier.

PG-13: 2 sec
Unrated: 1 sec


[00:46:47][00:49:17]

PG-13:

Larry fires at the girl by the wall.

Unrated:

Larry fires at the girl. There is blood. Then he cocks his weapon.

PG-13: 2 sec
Unrated: 4 sec


[00:46:53][00:49:25]

PG-13:

Larry tries to commit suicide but he is out of ammo. He tosses the weapon and goes in the kitchen.

Unrated:

Alternate shot of Larry's suicide attempt. He tries to pull the trigger twice, tosses the weapon and goes in the kitchen.

PG-13: 15 sec
Unrated: 26 sec


[00:47:08][00:49:51]

The blood is missing in the PG-13.

no difference


[00:47:32][00:50:16]

PG-13:

Footage of Larry looking inside the living room.

Unrated:

The lamp is flickering. Larry takes a look inside the living room.

PG-13: 4 sec
Unrated: 3 sec


[00:47:36][00:50:19]

Missing GSW in the PG-13.

no difference


[00:47:40][00:50:24]

Larry earlier.

Unrated: 4 sec


[00:47:51][00:50:39]

PG-13:

Cut to The Bye Bye Man, the lamp is flickering, Larry hits the ground. Cut to Larry, then Elliot.

Unrated:

Larry longer when he is drinking the toxin. He collapses, spits blood and hits the ground.

PG-13: 14 sec
Unrated: 30 sec


[00:52:38][00:55:42]

PG-13:

Kim earlier.

Unrated:

Elliot longer.

PG-13: 1 sec
Unrated: 1 sec


[00:58:36][01:01:40]

Detective Shaw a little longer.

Unrated: 1 sec


[00:59:00][01:02:05]

Alternate footage of the cop.

PG-13: 2 sec
Unrated: 2 sec


[01:04:29][01:07:33]

PG-13:

Sasha looks at Elliot. John then turns around to her.

Unrated:

The Unrated contains more explicit footage of the sex scene with John and Sasha.

PG-13: 5 sec
Unrated: 7 sec


[01:12:59][01:16:04]

Alternate shot of Elliot. In the Unrated, he says "fucking husband". The PG-13 lacks the F-bomb.

PG-13: 2 sec
Unrated: 2 sec


[01:14:28][01:17:33]

The Unrated cuts to Elliot.

Unrated: 1 sec


[01:14:29][01:17:36]

The Unrated cuts to Mrs. Redmon on fire.

Unrated: 3 sec


[01:14:31][01:17:40]

PG-13:

Elliot longer. He then inhales.

Unrated:

Cut to Mrs. Redmon on fire. Elliot shakes his head in disbelief and says it was not real. Cut to Mrs. Redmon and back to Elliot who still refuses to believe it is real.

PG-13: 4 sec
Unrated: 12 sec


[01:14:38][01:17:55]

Elliot a bit earlier.

Unrated: 3 sec


[01:16:24][01:19:45]

PG-13:

The librarian goes down. Elliot still believes he is being tricked.

Unrated:

The Unrated contains alternate footage. Here, it becomes clear that a part of the woman's head is missing.

PG-13: 11 sec
Unrated: 8 sec


[01:16:41][01:19:59]

PG-13:

Elliot longer. He runs off.

Unrated:

Footage of the librarian's body while Elliot is running off.

PG-13: 9 sec
Unrated: 4 sec


[01:20:24][01:23:37]

PG-13:

John tries to stab Sasha but he misses.

Unrated:

John injures Sasha's cheek. Elliot tells him to stop.

PG-13: 2 sec
Unrated: 4 sec


[01:20:28][01:23:43]

The Unrated contains two additional shots of Sasha yelling at Elliot to take the shot.

Unrated: 2 sec


[01:20:36][01:23:52]

PG-13:

A flash of light has been added to the previous shot. Then two shots of wounded John.

Unrated:

Due to alternate footage, one here gets to see the GSW. An alternate shot of John follows.

PG-13: 5 sec
Unrated: 5 sec


[01:21:10][01:24:26]

Cut to wounded John plus Elliot earlier.

Unrated: 4 sec


[01:21:37][01:24:57]

Another cut to John.

Unrated: 3 sec


[01:24:48][01:28:10]

The Unrated cuts to Sasha getting pushed down the stairs.

Unrated: 2 sec


[01:24:53][01:28:17]

Alternate shot of Sasha.

PG-13: 1 sec
Unrated: 2 sec


[01:25:48][01:29:12]

Only the Unrated contains blood spatter when Elliot shoots himself.

no difference


[01:26:40][01:29:28]

Again, only the Unrated contains blood spatter.

no difference