You Can't Get Rid Of The Babadook

Rating: 9/10 (30 March 2015)

A few spoilers!
The Babadook is considered a brilliantly, smart movie, and rightfully so. Unlike many horror films, The Babadook does not rely on jump factors, a serial killer, or even a paranormal entity. It is an amazing portrayal of the monster that evolves from suppressing our depression, anger, and sadness. The Mister Babadook book appears on Samuel's bookshelf around the time of his birthday, which is also the premature death of his father. This is where we see Amelia's frustration and hatred for Samuel, which is exactly what the Babadook wanted to happen. Mister Babadook said, "it's in a word or in a look, you can't get rid of the Babadook" which can be applied to a few different scenarios Amelia is battling. When someone brings up Oskar or she sees pictures or his belongings, her disdain for Samuel is revealed. It also correlates to anything Sam does or says, because throughout the movie she gets increasingly angrier with him. The Babadook is a representation of the suppression of anger, depression, and hides in the shadows; just as people hide their negative feelings and depression. The Babadook figure in the book is portrayed as a shadow that lingers over Amelia, which symbolizes her lurking grief and depression. Throughout the film, with the use of high key lighting, we see and feel Amelia's exhaustion. High key lighting allows the audience to see her bags and lines on her face, which is amazingly done because I could physically feel with how she felt. Jennifer Kent does an excellent job of utilizing chiaroscuro with Amelia wearing light colors, but always being in the dark. The Babadook also is only seen in the shadows and even then, it is indistinguishable, which allows the view's imagination to take over. Low-key lighting was used brilliantly to have Amelia appear crazed and demented, and it provokes spine-tingling chills. Even when Amelia fights to get rid of the Babadook and Samuel tries to expel it with some tender-loving care, it goes in to submission, but does not leave their house. This just goes to show that you can never get rid of the Babadook.