The Babadook - Terrifying, thought-provoking horror
Would you think twice about The Babadook if you didn't realize that under its surface it is a brilliant tale of the horrors of everyday life? This film is not your everyday scary movie. In a time littered by horror films that barely convey any emotion other than fear, albeit a low form of fear through the use of jump-scares, The Babadook is a brilliantly written piece that explores terror through a constant sense of dread, odd imagery, and terrific performances. It is a horror film that has a fear element that transcends the natural zeitgeist.
The Babadook is an Australian film, and it is the first feature-length film from writer-director Jennifer Kent. Amelia (Essie Davis), the widowed mother of a young six-year old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman) is having trouble as her child begins exhibiting increasing behavior issues at his school. Every night she reads him a storybook to help him sleep, and one night he chooses a story she has never seen on the shelf before, a pop-up book titled Mister Babadook. The book tells of a tall creature that wears a long cloak and a top-hat, and a mask with a wide grin. It says that once you see his real face he will torment you and change your insides. It isn't long before he begins to appear and terrorize this small and struggling family.
This film is not gross, nor is it filled with jump scares. It takes you into a dark and dreary house, gives you protagonists who are conflicted and scared of their normal lives, and adds a paranormal spirit. This is not a film that scares you by briefly showing you terrifying imagery, this film surrounds you with terror. It's setting and pacing conveys a constant sense of dread. When something terrifying happens, you won't jump out of your seat, you'll attempt to cling to it and crawl into it. Your heart pounds at the sight of the creature that torments this family. With all the fear in this presence it seems surprising that what you're seeing is only half of what makes this film scary. When a slasher like Scream, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or Friday the 13th comes around we are scared by them, but we can't associate with them directly. The thought of being chased by murderers and cannibals is scary, but it isn't an everyday occurrence. The sense of dread in this film comes from its relatability. Difficulty of family life is something we can all associate with, and that is what this movie is about. Not everyone can associate with the difficulty of single-motherhood, or raising a child that is different from society’s norms, but most of us know how hard that is. When watching The Babadook you must question if Mister Babadook is a real monster, or if he is the fear that comes from a woman that is stressed and scared of her everyday life. Does she see The Babadook as the monster corrupting her thoughts, or is she simply burdened by a lack of sleep, or her child’s odd tendencies? After you finish this film, question the reality of the events you've witnessed. For some it might simply be a terrifying film about a monster terrorizing a family, or it might be a woman so terrified of herself that she believes she's being manipulated by a paranormal figure. Whichever way you swing it, is still a masterpiece.
One thing is for sure though, this movie will stick with me for a while, and as his book says "If it's in a word, or it's in a look... you can't get rid of The Babadook." The Babadook is Not Rated, it contains terrifying graphic images, intense scenes of violence, graphic language, blood, and some brief sexual imagery. It is currently available for streaming on Netflix Instant Video, or can be rented on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, VUDU and other streaming services for $3.99.