The Babadook-Spoiler Alert

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2017)

The Babadook-spoiler alert
The film The Babadook directed by Jennifer Kent beautifully represents just how seriously the condition of depression can take over our lives. The narrative is laid out to give important details of this single mother's life in the perfect timing to keep the audience involved in what she is going through. Weighed down by the sudden, tragic death of her husband just before delivering her child, Amelia goes about living her life whilst keeping these feelings suppressed. She treats her son, Samuel, in an almost-too- nice sort of fashion, surely trying to ignore the resentment she has for her husband's death. Nothing changes until Mister Babadook enters their life. The story book shows up randomly, perhaps representing a change in the ability for her to contain the depression. The metaphorical use of Mister Babadook perfectly represents her depression boiling over the edge to a point where she has no control. Kent's subtle and simplistic directing adds to the tension creating a building suspension throughout the film. The house along with Amelia's appearance seem to decay as the tension build, showing how Mister Babadook (or her depression) is rapidly taking over. However, Mister Babadook is hardly seen in whole, mostly coming across as simply a sound, or as his disguise which easily looks like a man (likely representing her husband). This could show how the depression is not seen but it's always there, haunting you. Ultimately, Amelia learns to control Mister Babadook keeping him as a sort of "pet", and not only suppress her depression but accepts it. Overall this is not a typical gory horror movie, but the haunting psychological effects will stay with you for much longer.