Decent execution of a weak script

Rating: 4/10 (28 April 2019)

The Babadook (dook dook...) is an exploration of the long-term effects of grief and loss and how, if they aren't dealt with properly, those feelings can consume you.
The film has a general feeling of hopelessness and gloom, along with an eerie and off-putting sense of dreamlike surrealism achieved through some really cool editing and film-making choices. The presentation and general tone of this film is where it really shines, the whole film feels like a descent into madness as we see the characters of the film become more distressed, sleep deprived and down-right insane as the film progresses.
Where the film falls down is in its horror and its script. God in heaven is the Babadook itself goofy. To steal a line from Adam from YMS "A hipster in a top hat" standing in the corner isn't frightening, it's hilarious. Not to mention the unbelievably long list of terrible horror movie cliches this movie falls into which just manage to make the story of the film more bland and predictable. Special mention goes to the son who manages to fulfill every "Kid in a horror movie" cliche like he's ticking off a checklist.
All in all, The Babadook is an unsettling and relatively interesting exploration of grief and paranoia which is held down by a predictable plot and comedic, cliche horror.