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Most horror films tend to fit into a pretty predictable mold, using the same old scary movie clichés that are so often satirized. But in her full-length horror debut, The Babadook, Australian writer/director Jennifer Kent shatters expectations to create a horror film that’s not just scary; it’s also smart and dramatic.
The Babadook tells the story of a single mom who’s still struggling with her own grief while trying to care for a troubled child. Amelia (Essie Davis) lost her husband in a car accident seven years ago, when he was driving her to the hospital to give birth to their son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a precocious kid who now suffers from a debilitating fear of monsters.
Samuel’s fear increases when a mysterious pop-up book called Mister Babadook appears on his bookshelf. What starts out as a creepy story turns more and more sinister—and it unleashes a menacing spirit that threatens their already unsteady existence.
This Sundance crowd-pleaser is a groundbreaking horror film—one that’s so much more than just another mindless scream-fest. Kent gives the film a unique perspective, developing her characters and telling a surprisingly dramatic story that’s also absolutely terrifying on so many levels. Of course, Mister Babadook himself is pretty chilling—a dark, shadowy specter who manifests himself however and whenever he chooses as he wreaks havoc on this already troubled little family. But the characters and their story make the film every bit as heartbreaking as it is horrifying.
After all, these two characters have already been haunted for years—by the ghost of their husband and father, whose belongings are still kept in the basement. All these years later, they’re still in mourning, their house dark and drab. Despite her pain and grief, though, Amelia is a devoted mom, fiercely protective of Samuel while increasingly exhausted by his nightly terrors. Any parent of a young child who doesn’t sleep well at night can tell you how everything is so much tougher when mixed with sleep deprivation—and it’s difficult to watch as the Babadook’s relentless attacks cause her resolve to crumble.
Meanwhile, the film is made even more memorable by its remarkable cast. Davis gives an unsettling performance as the terrorized mom—who, thanks to the Babadook’s presence, can turn on her son in the blink of an eye. One minute, she’s a monster; the other, she’s sweet and loving and apologetic—and that unpredictability makes her transformation all the more terrifying. Wiseman, too, is unforgettable as Samuel—a strange little kid who faces his fears to protect those he loves. And, together with Kent, they make this low-budget thriller a pleasantly chilling—and unexpectedly moving—surprise.
The Babadook is far from the norm—a smart and relatable horror movie. Even if you tend to shy away from scary movies, this one is worth checking out—though you might want to watch it in the middle of a sunny day, to help lessen its effect.
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