'The Babadook' is quite possibly the scariest film since Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'.

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2015)

If you've met me, you would instantly know that I'm one of the biggest advocates of the horror genre. I just have to get my hands on every horror title and at least view it once. No matter if it's a terrible B-movie, one that has a treasure trove of blood and entrails, or a slow burn psychological horror, I'm usually a fan of the horror genre in general. I love having nightmares more than the usual puppy dogs and ice cream dreams, and I love when a movie truly scares me so much so that I'm a bit frightened to walk down my dark hallway at night. I know it's a twisted mind set, and maybe it stems from my dad bringing me to see 'Aliens' at such a young age in the theater, but the horror genre is where I feel most at home.
Now over the past decade or two, there have been only a few select movies that have actually scared me. Most of the horror films as of recently rely on standard horror beats to muster up cheap, fast scares that come across more silly and stupid than anything. It's that 'once in a blue moon' where a horror film does everything right. And that blue moon is 'The Babadook', which is an Australian horror film written and directed by actress Jennifer Kent. 'The Babadook' is quite possibly the scariest film since Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'. It's a story and film that will stay with you for days and keep you up in the middle of the night, scared to look out over the covers and walk alone down the dark hall in your home. It's not only one of the most frightening films I've ever seen, it's also a fairly endearing film too that shows the story of a single widowed mother of a young boy with an active imagination, and their struggle to keep a happy life.
Sam (Noah Wiseman) and his widowed mom Amelia (Essie Davis) seemingly lead a happy life together and are still trying to pick up the pieces after Sam's dad died on the day of hi birth. Amelia used to be a successful writer, but now takes care of the elderly in a nursing home to make ends meet. Meanwhile, her lively young boy Sam is having difficulties making friends at school and spends his time making wood and steel catapults to fight invisible monsters. Amelia reads a bed time story to Sam every night before he goes to bed, but one night a strange book shows up called 'The Babadook'. It's written like a children's story complete with pop-ups, but the story is quite sinister that depicts a giant shadowy creature that lurks around you and your house at all times, never leaves, and will eventually kill you.
Soon after she starts reading it to Sam, she realizes this is an evil book and tries to throw it away. Well of course the book shows up again and things start happening in the house to Sam and Amelia. Lights flicker, a strange and evil looking creature appear, one of the scariest voices echo through the house, and Sam and Emilia start to hallucinate. It's not a good situation. What makes 'The Babadook' so scary is it's character development between Sam and Amelia. You can tell there is a lot of love for each other there and they even make a pact to protect each other. By doing this, we feel very connected and attached to these people, and when evil starts to fly full circle, their transformations are even more terrifying.
The creature itself is something straight from your worst nightmares and not something you would ever want to see in person, let alone your dreams. There is an aspect of 'The Shining' put into this story and Essie Davis plays this aspect pitch perfect. Her voice octave range, body language and expressions sell every emotion and action so realistically that she deserves an acting award. And Wiseman's performance as Sam is excellent as well. 'The Babdook' doesn't rely on CG effects, gore, or cheap scares.
Every action and piece of dialogue is thoroughly thought out and executed, delivering one of the scariest films to ever grace the big screen. I can't wait to see this again and scare myself over and over.