Fantasy Horror vs Disturbing Subject Matter

Rating: 8/10 (8 December 2014)

'The Babadook' appears at first to be just another slice of horror for those who enjoy the genre. Indeed, not only horror, but, as was 'The Shining', a disturbing psychological study of a mentally ill mind. And, as such it works well. But, the average horror buff isn't going to be satisfied here. It is obvious that there was no intention for 'The Babadook' to do so. One can draw an easy conclusion of why the writer-director Jennifer Kent would labor at such elaborately abstract images to exact such a story. Perhaps to allow us to come face-to- face with evil without the graphics - thankfully - although there are some images that are very disquieting. In today's world of high school shootings, decapitations, and massive carnage, American society doesn't like dealing with its own dysfunction. We let politicians do it. We seldom seek counseling from those that might give us insight. Even when our youth are gunned down in our own neighborhoods do we refuse to negotiate even halfhearted contemplation about the potential evil that exists in the human psyche.