The Horror Show
The Babadook
by Jennifer Kent
Australian horror has offered many great choices and this time it gives us The Babadook, another version of our beloved Boogeyman.
Director Jennifer Kent has done a great job depicting the chaotic repercussions of letting the Babadook in and the catastrophic implications of such an encounter on an already traumatized and distressed mother.
The story follows Amelia (Essie Davis), a depressed woman who still struggles to cope with her husband’s death the day her child was born, and her 7-year-old son Samuel (Noah Wiseman), who appears to be an aggressive and imaginative boy, obsessed with monsters creeping under the bed.
Their life seems to be an everyday struggle, as Samuel’s violent behavior drives other children away and Amelia seems to be lost in her own little world, where grief and loneliness prevail.
It is when she reads a strange bedtime story to Samuel that their nightmare begins. Mister Babadook is a creepy and disturbing book about a dark and eerie figure that lurks in the dark corners of the house that no one can get rid of.
Samuel becomes annoyingly obsessed with the presence of the Babadook and makes Amelia’s life even harder.
But, soon, the Babadook will take over her. Both Samuel and Amelia will be in great danger, as the creepy monster will seek death.
Essie Davis’s excellent performance makes everything better for The Babadook. Her talent shines through her character and she is clearly one of the movie’s biggest assets. Little Noah Wiseman is also a valuable member of the cast. His screaming voice and convincing performance compliment his character and the two of them form an excellent duo.
Even though the story of the Boogeyman is not new to the genre, Kent manages to deliver a quite unique outcome. She successfully creates a scary figure by mainly focusing on the element of darkness and eerie shadows, while the few words that the Babadook speaks throughout the movie are enough to spook the viewer.
The first half of The Babadook might seem rather mundane due to the lack of action and horror. It is more about the family’s hard life than the haunting of a creepy monster, but the second half is particularly satisfying and enjoyable, since the Babadook makes his presence known. The scenes of his haunting presence are really chilling – yet limited.
If I had to point out one thing I didn’t like about this movie, it would definitely be the ending – hands down. When I came to realize how it actually ended, I couldn’t help but feel a bit weird…and not in a good way. Despite the really odd ending, The Babadook is certainly a quite entertaining choice of this year’s horror productions.
Maria Kriva, HMS
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