It has been a while since a movie made me want to turn all the lights on before getting a drink of water at night, but The Babadook*, written and directed by Aussie actress-turned-filmmaker Jennifer Kent, definitely fit the bill. If the term “Babadook” sounds like a silly nonsense word that’s because it is (outside of role playing games). It also happens to be the name of a malevolent entity conjured from a children’s book that single mom (Amelia) finds on her son’s (Sam) bookshelf one day… which comes as a bit of a surprise since she doesn’t remember getting it.
The entire film is littered with such odd occurrences, tainted by moments of tragedy that begin with the death of Amelia’s husband in a car crash on the way to the hospital to give birth to Sam. Fast forward 7 years later and Amelia is still traumatized from the accident, unable to show genuine affection towards Sam or talk to him about his father. Feeling hollow inside she walks through life in a bit of a haze, the perfect vessel for something wicked to take root. Indeed, she selfishly hides away fond memories of her husband in a dark corner of the basement where happiness and despair intertwine, festering into something truly twisted.
In a nutshell The Babadook is a suspenseful horror film about loss, repression, and depression. For some, this film might be a deterrent if you’ve been thinking about having kids especially the scenes with Sam freaking out and screaming. While he was a bit taxing on some peoples’ patience, Sam is a sweetheart and has definite potential as an engineer. Seriously, I’d be soo stoked if my kid made a combination backpack/trebuchet; dessert for dinner for a week! As her debut feature film, Kent sought to tackle the semi-taboo topic that not all parents have an instant connection or bond with their child. When you have a child, you are expected to love them unconditionally… but what if you don’t?
THE VERDICT
The Babadook utilizes the slow-boil psychological thriller not unlike to The Shining and infuses it with the trap/weapon making charm of Home Alone. I give The Bababook a 10 out of 10! Great cinematography, an amazingly creepy antagonist, and it has multiple interpretations. It’s an emotional and psychological supernatural horror film that is sure to become a cult classic. In fact, there’s already a crowdfunding page for making a replica of the book from the film! It’s a little pricey, but given the custom/handmade nature of the book that’s somewhat understandable.
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*The Babadook represents frustration and depression is similar to a Lynchian archetype known as garmonbozia, which is pain and suffering shown in the form of creamed corn in the film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. Super weird, I know. In Fire Walk with Me, there is a young boy in the room with the garmonbozia who is a magician, just like Sam. Maybe director Jennifer Kent is a Lynch fan?
