The Babadook (2014)

There are very few horror movies that I truly enjoy, as the genre tends to attract some very bad movies, yet this movie was anything but bad. A truly unique movie that dives deep into the psyche of a single widow (Essie Davis) who's son has extreme behavioral issues while also grappling with the loss of her departed husband. Her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house begins to manifest itself all around her.

With impressive cinematography that utilizes interesting camera techniques to convey a feeling of discomfort. A scene that stands out is when the camera takes the perspective of the Babadook, the camera tilts before lurching forward into the room and into Davis' mouth, almost like it was possessing her. The color palette also reflects the movie's tone with a large absence of bright colors. It heavily utilizes black with darkness engrossing most of the scenes, especially whenever the Babadook is present. This creates a feeling of an unknown as the viewer cannot see where the monster lurks.

Davis plays Amelia with heart and emotion although there are times I felt there was a bit of overacting. Yet, her portrayal of a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown is apt and convincing.

The Babadook is a brilliant reversal of traditional Hollywood horror movies as the "monster" is not a monster but the conjurings of our unreliable narrator, Amelia. The movie doesn't patronize its audience by telling them everything. We never know whether the Babadook is real or the manifestations of a delusional woman. This movie can be taken literally, a demon terrorizes a single widow and her child, or the acceptance of Amelia's grief for her deceased husband.

One of the greatest tricks this movie pulls is how it brilliantly hides its monster. The Babadook is barely seen and shows itself once or twice. People fear the unknown and this movie never loses its sense of fear, we have no idea what this creature truly looks like. The Babadook represents a literal form of Amelia's (Davis) guilt and represents the grief that comes with loss. The movie deals with the five stages of guilt: denial, bargaining, depression, anger, and acceptance. The Babadook leads the viewer through all five stages as Amelia denies the existence of the Babadook, bargains with it, hides from it, yells it and then, at last, accepts it. In the end, Amelia doesn't defeat her grief and move on but instead accepts it. Amelia's realization that she cannot get rid of the Babadook and must live with it allows her to eventually coexist with it. Grief is not something that ever goes away, it is something to accept and live with. I give this movie an 8 out of 10 for a truly unique horror experience and a phenomenal premise that is executed expertly.
- GL

8 / 10


(Above) My favourite shot:

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