The Heartwarming Tale of a Single Mom and her Poltergeist Raising her Wildly Undisciplined Son...

Rating: 7/10 (19 December 2015)

THE BABADOOK was a decent movie but I was disappointed after my first viewing thanks to all the hype behind it. There were a bunch of reviews touting it as terrifying and one of the scariest films of the year; I'm pretty sure there was even a quote from William Friedkin (director of THE EXORCIST) praising it as the most terrifying movie he's ever seen. The film, from first-time feature director Jennifer Kent, is about Amelia (Essie Davis) and her son Samuel (Noah Wiseman). Samuel's father died in a car accident driving a pregnant Amelia to the hospital the day Samuel was born, so it's just been the two of them ever since. It's been rough going, with Amelia stuck in a thankless job and Samuel developing behavioral issues. Severe behavioral issues. He's getting in trouble in schoolfor bringing homemade weapons and his own aunt can't stand to be around him. Then, one night, Amelia goes to read Samuel a bedtime story and discovers a strange new book on the shelf, "The Babadook". It's a twisted little pop-up book that scares the wits out of Samuel and, as if that isn't bad enough, it's merely the start of a series of bizarre occurrences. Soon Samuel is "seeing" the Babadook and he becomes petrified that the shadowy creature is invading their home. Amelia's frustration with the boy skyrockets when he acts out against this invisible specter but we begin to wonderis it Amelia's years of frustration boiling over or has the Babadook found a host?
Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just desensitized but THE BABADOOK wasn't much of a horror film. Thriller, sure. Certainly a drama. But I wouldn't classify it as horror. I was never at any point scared of anything. These warped expectations ruined my initial viewing. I'd bought the movie, reading so much good about it, and sat down with a couple beers for a good scare. Halfway through, I was so put-off by the misdirection that I couldn't be bothered to care. It wasn't until my second viewing, this time know what I was getting in to, that I began to recognize it as a good film. It still wasn't scary but, since I was watching it fresh, I was able to recognize how talented the filmmakers were at creating a constant state of suspense. THE BABADOOK is a very tense film. The visuals are drab and drained of color; Amelia's house is full of cool blue shades and shadowy corners. The rising tension throughout the beginning of the film is slow but you can see it all building up to the point where it'll burst. You can't help but sympathize with Amelia in the beginning; her job sucks and her son is a royal pain. Samuel appears to have two modes: hyperkinetic and screaming. It's not surprise that she's as burnt out as she is, having dealt with this life for years with no one by her side. Anyone could go nuts in such a rut.
Then the Babadook arrives and it's too much for Amelia to bear. Things get interesting and I love that, the second time around, I noticed that it's not all as cut and dry as I'd thought. I realized that it leaves it ambiguous whether there really is a supernatural being haunting their little family or perhaps Amelia has finally just snapped and everything occurring in the film is her unconscious mind acting out. It's only really this element that keeps the film all that interesting and I've read some interesting interpretations online. But does it stand out in the genre? Not really; not to me. If you're thinking of checking out THE BABADOOK, manage your expectations and don't let the hype get them too high. It's pretty slowly paced and can feel as if it's dragging at times. The final act where everything finally falls apart is pretty entertaining. In terms of casting, this is essentially a two-person show with Davis and Wiseman. Davis does a fine job as the increasingly fragile Amelia and Wisemanwellyou get used to his antics as the film progresses and, despite his annoying nature, you'll most likely be on his side by the end. There are a few minor characters. Barbara West is their kind, elderly neighbor who is always on the verge of getting involved when things have obviously taken a turn for the worse in Amelia's home but was never bothered enough to get the authorities involved. Amelia's snobbish sister Claire (Hayley McElhinney) sees her sister's suffering but couldn't seem to care less. Really, the Babadook should stop worrying about Samuel and needs to focus his energies on the useless people surrounding Amelia. That, I think we could all agree on. Anyway, THE BABADOOK, while not as game-changing as some critics might want you to believe, is a serviceable supernatural (?) thriller and is probably worth your time if you're bored on a quiet night.