The Babadook

Hey there, Horror Fans.

On Sunday, we went to see The Babadook and yes, it’s taken me this long to write my review.

Directed by: Jennifer Kent.
Starring: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Benjamin Winspear, Carmel Johnson.
Rated: 15 cert
Length: 95 min.

Amelie is stressed. Following the death of her husband, Oskar, she’s raised Samuel alone. A lack of sleep and Samuel’s continually increasing behavioural problems have her on edge. Then a book arrives. A dark, mysterious book filled with terrifying drawings and even more troubling rhymes.

“Cause if it’s in a word, or if it’s in a book, you can’t get rid of the Babadook..”

Adapted from her 2005 short film, Monster, this is Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent’s debut feature as a writer-director and what a satisfying yet incredibly unsettling debut feature it is.

Essie Davis’ Amelie is outstanding, with her emotions delivered raw and realistic as she plays a mother plagued by depression, insomnia but the overriding need to provide for and protect her son. Noah Wieseman is equally brilliant as Samuel, a child living with an overactive imagination and the pain of never knowing his father. Between them, the tension is palpable and unnerving.

As the film progresses we’re given a deeper insight in to their world and when the Babadook arrives, Kent’s greatest strength as a writer-director is revealed: she makes you care about the characters to the point that you’ll find yourself genuinely worried for their safety.

To tell you anymore about the film would be giving away too much. It covers so many aspects of human nature before the horror even begins that when it does, you’ll be begging for a rosy outcome.

Whether the film delivers on this, you’ll have to find out for yourself. While lacking in the formulaic scares so often used in films nowadays, the Babadook offers its audience a totally unique experience and I, for one, can’t wait to see what other films Kent turns her hand to next.

“So close your eyes and count to ten.
Better hope you don’t wake up again.
‘Cause if it’s in a word,
Or if it’s in a book,
You can’t get rid of the Babadook.
You’ll see him if you look.”

Rating: 10/10.

Laters xx