The Babadook Review.

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2016)

The Babadook(2014) is an Australian film by first time writer/director Jennifer Kent. The film Is about a recently widowed single mother Amelia(Essie Davis), who is struggling with controlling her out of control six year old son Sam(Noah Wiseman), who is convinced monsters exist. His behaviour becomes more and more erratic to the point she's forced to take him out of school and look after him by herself.
One night Amelia reads him a story of The Babadook, that mysteriously appears on Sams bookshelf. As she begins to read the disturbing book of Mr.Babadook, who torments victims when they become aware of it's existence. Amelia rips up and throws out the book, but the book re- assembles, and is left on her front door. Then strange and more violent acts start happening, as she starts having visions of her deceased husband.
Jennifer Kent, directs the film with a very claustrophobic feel, so that the main characters are always feeling trapped and unable to escape from their environment. The Babadook is filled with intelligent symbolism, and metaphors for the viewer think about during the film, and long after it's ended. The film deals with Issues about how fear attracts fear, and how not dealing with our problems, can bring the deepest parts of our subconscious to life.
The film is boosted by two strong performances from the lead actors. Davis portrays a grieving mother who is at the end of her rope, with her son, as she begins to lose sight of reality. Wiseman gives a star making performance in his first film. He does a fantastic job of showing both strength and vulnerability, whilst dealing with paranormal monsters, and his increasingly dangerous and destructive home life.
The Babadook Is a film that focuses on style, subtext and atmosphere, whilst rarely using jump scares to terrify it's audience. This film has all the right ingredients that makes it one of the best Horror films in recent years.