Genuinely Creepy. One of the best films of the year!

Rating: 9/10 (21 December 2014)

"The Babadook" does two things that seem almost impossible for a modern horror film: create a tense, creepy sense of discomfort from beginning to end without resorting to lame jump scares or over the top gore, and develop its characters enough that we actually care about them.
Drifting away from the "cinema-veritas" style that seems almost a rule for horror nowadays, the film tells the story of a family that is haunted by the titular monster, the "babadook", a creature that, even when he doesn't make a "real appearance" on the screen, now rivals icons such as Michael Myers, Chucky and Jason Voorhees in my book. But the short appearances of the monster are all for the best, as in horror "the less you know, the scarier it is". Each shot is also beautifully crafted, each one guaranteed to build up momentum until the climax arrives. And finally, the performances are particularly strong for a horror film (someone get that kid an Oscar!).
There are still a few shortcomings, particularly on the effects department, but all is forgiven given its low budget, and, aren't all the best horror movies made with heart over money? The only other fault I see in the film is that it could have been a little shorter, but again, this is just a minor criticism.
If you're a horror fan or you're just in for a good scare, you should see this right now! (even William Friedkin, director of "The Exorcist" loves it!) Let's just hope Hollywood does not the turn the well dry ("Paranormal Activity" series, I'm looking in you direction...) and leaves this movie at is: a beautiful, nearly perfect little film that is not only the best horror film of the year (BY FAR!) but of the most wildly inventive horror features of the decade.
9 out of 10