Causeway Films
Entertainment One
Screen Australia
South Australian Film Corporation
Not part of a collection.
The Babadook
If it's in a word, or it's in a look, you can't get rid of...
A grieving single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book manifests in their home.
- Original title
- The Babadook
- Language
- EN
- Country
- AU
- Budget
- $2,000,000
- Revenue
- $10,300,000
MovieGuys
Feb 18, 2024 · via TMDB
The Babadook is one of those elusive horror films, that's open to broad interpretation. My personal feeling have watched the whole film in the context of the single mothers predicament, is the real monster is the spectre of domestic abuse. Abuse that happens when a fundamentally decent person, is pushed too far by life and circumstance. I will warn you, this film is most definitely not for everyone. If, like me, you don't like films, that emulate the abuse of animals, you might want to give this one a hard pass. That said, there is a lot to like in The Babadook. Its a grimly realistic insight into how life's tragedies can compound and grow, beyond the first tragic event. Acting too, as is so, so often the case with Australian films, is of a very high standard. Its easy to be drawn into the unfolding, sad tale of a struggling mother, who suddenly finds herself single, sad and alone, with a young son to support. In summary, quite brilliant, in a dark, at times sad and depressing way. By no means an easy watch but certainly a haunting one, that will remain with you, long after the closing credits.
r96sk
Jul 10, 2020 · via TMDB
<em>'The Babadook'</em> is a well done horror film, one that is most definitely creepy. I would've liked more from the monster and how it works, though the film does give you enough and certainly does a fine job at building up the atmosphere of uneasiness that the thing produces. One great part I noticed is the sound editing, which is astutely crafted throughout. Essie Davis does terrific in the role of Amelia, she shows every emotion that her character is feeling nicely - I felt her pain initially with the kid, too. Noah Wiseman plays her son, Samuel. He is actually quite impressive given his age, there are a few scenes where he adds a fair deal to them. It's hearty, suspenseful and attempts proper horror as opposed to forcing things like jump scares, which I will always praise a production in this genre for. I wanted a little more, but overall I like this.
Gimly
Dec 18, 2019 · via TMDB
The best pure-horror of the year. But that's not saying much. Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.
John Chard
Nov 19, 2014 · via TMDB
Ba Ba-Ba Dook! Dook! Dook! The Babadook is written and directed by Jennifer Kent. It stars Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall and Hayley McElhinney. Music is by Jed Kurzel and cinematography by Radek Ladczuk. Amelia is a single mother still haunted by the violent death of her husband, she is trying to deal with her young son Samuel's fear of a monster in the house. Initially tolerating it as a flight of fancy, the arrival of a book in the youngster's bedroom called Mr. Babadook, signals the start of a sinister presence that she herself can begin to fear as well. Australia has been producing some great horror films in the last couple of decades, The Babadook is one of the best of the bunch. Jennifer Kent made it as a 10 minute short back in 2005 called Monster, itself a super piece of horror film making, now in full feature length form (Kent’s first), the vision and intelligence explodes off the screen in every frame. The premise at the core is not exactly fresh, but Kent manages to make The Babadook its own entity, skilfully steering away from formula jolts and terrors. Which in this day and age of horror retreads, sequel frenzies and blood for blood’s sake, is most refreshing. This is a big character piece, a two hander of incredible emotional power, a mother and son dealing with their own demons before the eponymous Babadook enters the fray. We care about this pair of troubled souls, so much so that as we start to feel the dread, get the tingles down the spine, our hearts are also aching for them. The two performances of the actors quite simply magnificent. Mr. Babadook is a pop-up picture book that suddenly arrives into their lives. The creature is a sort of cross between a German expressionistic nightmare and Jack the Ripper. The book itself is creepy enough in its own right, more so as it starts to take on a more terrifying tone – and Amelia proves unsuccessful at getting rid of the thing – the picture starts playing its ace psychological cards. The monster is kept mostly to the edges of the frames, or just popping up for a quick glance in unexpected places, this is a great move and suits the narrative perfectly. The tech credits are top notch. A key aspect to getting the most out of The Babadook is to make sure the sound is loud, for the sound mix is tremendous and can bring pounds of gooseflesh rising up on your arms. Ladczuk’s photography is at one with the themes pulsing away in the story, the colours paled and cheerless, enhancing the fractured psyches of mother and son, but Mr. Babadook is a jet black presence in this landscape. All told the art design from the book to the house and the creature is excellent. Umbrella’s Australian All Region Blu-ray Release has a super transfer and does justice to the sound mix. There’s over an hour of interviews, which are a mixed bag of informative chat and back slapping, a 12 minute behind the scenes making of and some trailers. The bonus is the 10 minute short, Monster, The Babadook in its infancy but no less scary for it. The Babadook is a superlative horror film for adults, like when Polanski met Kubrick and they decided to pay homage to Fritz Lang and George Melies. Yes it’s that good. 10/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Essie Davis
Amelia Vanek
Noah Wiseman
Samuel Vanek
Hayley McElhinney
Claire
Daniel Henshall
Robbie
Barbara West
Gracie Roach
Ben Winspear
Oskar Vanek
Craig Behenna
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Terence Crawford
Doctor
Tiffany Lyndall-Knight
Supermarket Mum
Radek Ładczuk
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Justin Dix
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Olivia Beardsley
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Olivia Beardsley
Stand In
Jennifer Kent
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Sean Lahiff
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Danny Philippou
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Nikki Barrett
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Kristina Ceyton
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Michael Philippou
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Jed Kurzel
Original Music Composer
Jennifer Kent
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Jan 17, 2014
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Jun 6, 2014
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Sep 20, 2014
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Oct 10, 2014
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Nov 28, 2014
Sep 19, 2024
10th Anniversary Rerelease
