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"If it's in a word. Or in a look. You can't get rid of the BABADOOK." These words will resinate with you long after you have seen this film. Not only do these words apply to the fictional monster within the film but they represent the experience you'll take from the film itself.
From Aussie director Jennifer Kent, her first feature film ditches the mainstream jump scares of modern horror to go back to the good old days of psychological horror and suspense.
Set in modern day Australia the film follows single mother Amelia as she struggles to control her 6 year old son, Sam, whilst working full-time at a nursing home. Although she lost her husband in a car accident whilst she was being driven to the hospital to give birth to Sam. It's painfully obvious she has suppressed her grief for 7 years and hasn't moved on. She struggles to find sleep as her son runs rampant creating dangerous, home-made weapons to fend off supposed "monsters". When Sam is caught in school with one of these weapons, people start to think something is not right with the boy and Amelia takes him out of school. After waking up one night from having one of his repeating nightmares, Amelia tells him to pick a book to read from the shelf. The book he picks is a blood coloured pop-up book titled 'The Babadook'. Not knowing where the mysterious book came from Amelia begins to read it to Sam. Starting off seemingly innocent, the book begins to turn into a twisted foreboding of a creature from which the book is titled. Already set with the belief that monsters exist The Babadook begins to take over Sam's daily life, terrified at the thought of what would happen if The Babadook was "aloud in". His erratic and disobedient behaviour begin to take a large toll on Amelia both in her personal life and psychologically. When she pleads to the doctor to prescribe some sedatives to help Sam sleep, in turn helping her sleep, all seems to be well again. That is until The Babadook turns his attentions to Amelia. That's when sleep becomes impossible for her and things begin to slowly break down in spectacularly terrifying fashion.
What's so refreshing about this film is that it's smart horror. Especially after countless paranormal activity-esque horror flicks where the story is shoved to the side in favour of predictable jump scares. You know there is a frayed bond between Amelia and Sam just from the beginning of the movie where Sam is sleeping, clutching onto Amelia, and she shuffles away from him to the other side of the bed. Jennifer Kent has done a great job with the script and direction in the way she slowly makes you begin to change your attitude towards the characters. At first you feel sympathetic for Amelia as you think she is just a struggling single mother barely coping with a young boy who seems to have some deep set issues from a lack of a father figure. However as the film progresses you begin to realise that most of Sam's issues are a product of Amelia's deep seeded neglect of dealing with her own psychological problems. So when you sit there, at the end of the film, and really begin to think about it, you come to the question "Was The Babadook really real?". Well it depends on your interpretation on the film but for me The Babadook was really a symbolisation to these two characters deepest fears. For Sam The Babadook was the fear of a new man entering the house and stealing his mothers affection, for example in the film he say's "Don't let him in!" and "I'll protect you mummy and you protect me.". For Amelia on the other hand The Babadook is a manifestation of her fear of forgetting her late husband.
Now I could pick at many other Freudian theories but I think the true brilliance of The Badabook is that every scene is ambiguous. It's inspiration from German Expressionism constantly make you wonder who's consciousness is distorting this world. Is it real or is it just a fabricated version seen through the eyes of Amelia or Sam?
The Babadook is masterfully constructed with careful and elegant restraint. It's beautifully shot and the design of The Babadook itself is truly terrifying as you never see his face properly, leaving it to your imagination. Plus you can really tell Kent drew inspiration from the horror classics of old, from the way The Babadook has a disjointed movement to the way you seem him in old black and white horror films on the TV, resembling worlds such as Dr. Caligari or Nosferatu. Whilst young Noah Wiseman gives a credible performance as Sam it's Essie Davies as Amelia that steals the show with a ground-shaking performance.
The Badabook is a testament to the fresh talent that Jennifer Kent has to offer as a film maker. It's hauntingly dark and provocatively engaging. Jennifer Kent shows us that the most truly terrifying comes from the power of restraint and the fear of the un-seen. It's a modern psychological horror that will stand the test of time and should gain the following of horror fans, and film fans alike, it so truly deserves.
Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
Written by Matthew Trick
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