“The Babadook” is an Australian horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent which was released last year but is just now making its rounds stateside. It was picked up by IFC and released as an independent film, but don't let the low budget and lack of big names turn you off of this psychological horror movie. This is one of the scariest movies I have seen in years.
The movie follows a single mother as she deals with the the trauma of her husband’s death and the trials of raising a child as a single parent. This is no drama though, as she soon finds an absolutely terrifying story book in her son’s collection, which sets off a chain of events that leave the mother questioning her sanity. The mother is played perfectly by veteran actress Essie Davis. Throughout the movie she is on the brink of being pushed over the edge and she plays the role perfectly. The terrified young boy, played by Noah Wiseman, gives one of the better child actor performances I have seen in recent memory.
It is rare to see a horror movie take a more psychological approach to horror these days, with cheap jump scares, "torture porn" and the endless stream of found footage horror movies flooding the movie theaters, but “The Babadook” relies on atmosphere and its characters to move the story rather than pointless jump scares and killing characters that the viewer does not care about. Themes such as mental illness, depression, and even motherhood are explored using the creature as not just a physical manifestation, but also a metaphor.
A female horror movie director is a rare thing in present times, but Kent uses a mother’s perspective to really push the horrors that occur in the movie home. With the mother constantly questioning what is really going on with her and her son. If you really pay attention, by the end of the movie, the message and undertones of the movie are clear and haunting. This isn't a horror movie that was created just for a few jump scares and profit, this movie truly has a message behind it.
While the monster is not given a ton of screen time, when he is, it is terrifying. While it may look a bit silly at some points during the movie, the signature top hat and awful noises it makes create a memorable monster that could give even the bravest child nightmares.
The psychological thrills and examination of parenthood and family brought to mind the first time I saw Stanley Kubrick’s classic film “The Shining” and I would go as far to call this a modern day version of that movie from a female perspective, but don't get the wrong idea, this is no knock off.
The Babadook is a psychological thrill ride that will keep you invested in the characters from beginning to end, and leave you thinking about its message for days after you have seen it. More modern horror movies should take notes on the subtlety and use of themes from this underrated horror movie which I believe has the potential to become a cult classic. If you are going to see one horror movie this year, make it “The Babadook”
