A Decent Psychological Horror

Rating: 5/10 (22 April 2015)

I don't think The Babadook is anywhere near as good as some people are making it out to be, but it's definitely not a bad film either. It's also a more subtle horror than what we're used to seeing these days, and isn't one of those typical jump/scare/slasher films, so if you're expecting that you may be disappointed here.
Like I said, the horror is subtle...it's not in your face, it's not gory, it doesn't race at you, and, again, this will not be to everyone's taste.
The film's pretty slow paced for the most part, but if you can get into the story then it won't seem that slow because it draws you in and keeps your interest. It also unfolds nicely as it goes along, and it's not a film that has step-by-step instructions on what is going on which could be another reason why some people don't like it. There's obviously nothing wrong with that, but for me personally it's just refreshing see a film come along that breaks for the norm of having everything laid out in front of me.
The Babadook isn't one dimensional with it's horror either, as it's not just about a mother & son who are haunted by a "boogeyman" (who's actually creepy in the scenes it's shown and heard in). The horror comes in different forms...the son trying to cope without a dad, struggling with being bullied, and who's convinced a monster's in the house; the mother struggling to cope with being a single parent, and suffering from depression. They are struggling with their own demons so to speak, so the horror comes from different angles.
The acting is pretty good for the most part, and Noah Wiseman, who plays Sam, does a great job of making you feel sorry for him one minute to wanting to slap him because of his behaviour the next. His inventions are pretty cool as well.
Overall, while there are better psychological horrors out there than The Babadook, it doesn't mean that it's a bad film. It's well directed, well written, and well played out. Definitely worth a watch.