"The Babadook"- A new classic in the world of horror.

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2016)

It's not too often that I am as amazed and enthralled with a film as I was with 2014's phenomena of horror "The Babadook." It's a film that from its very first moment has you captive in its dark tale of grief and suffering, unable to turn away from the screen because you are so completely absorbed into the exquisitely crafted narrative. Clever and deliciously frightening, it's easily a new classic in the world of horror.
In the six years that have passed since the tragic loss of her husband in a car accident, Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis) has lead a troubled and depressing existence as the single mother of her deeply troubled son Samuel. (Noah Wiseman) One night, as she goes to read Samuel a bedtime story, he suggests a mysterious book that Amelia was previously unaware of: "Mr. Babadook", the story of a frightening creature that stalks and tortures those who become aware of its existence. Samuel is disturbed by the twisted story and the images contained therein, and soon, becomes obsessed with the idea that Mr. Babadook is all too real. At the same time, mysterious phenomena begin to plague the largely sleepless Amelia, and it appears that with her quickly-slipping sanity, she too will begin to see the demented figure that has started to torment her son's fragile psyche.
Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, "The Babadook" is a powerhouse of emotional terror, dealing with complex themes of grief, depression, mental illness and even hatred. It's very clever in its use of ambiguous and evocative storytelling, allowing the audience to reach their own conclusions and to theorize on the goings-on in many key sequences. Like many greats of the genre, it's a film that from the start encourages critical analysis and personal interpretation, which helps each and every person take from it what they will. It's filled to burst with metaphorical imagery and hauntingly atmospheric visual motifs, leading to an all-encompassing sense of dread that very few films in the past have managed to capture. I was left in literal awe with just how exquisitely crafted a tale it was, and Kent deserves nothing but the utmost praise and respect for what she accomplishes here.
This is also very much an actor's film, relying heavily on the presentation of a single mother and her child on the brink of collapse. Not only does the script perfectly establish and continue to flesh out our two leads throughout the running time, but both Davis and Wiseman are revelations for the film. Davis gives a performance that in every way deserves all the recognition she could receive. It's the role of a lifetime, and she consistently knocks it out of the part as a mother pushed to and over the edge by the circumstances of her life- both those in and out of her control. She is simply incredible and makes for one of the most compelling leads in a horror film I've seen in some time. Wiseman is a very talented and lovable child actor, and he does great with the part of the deeply troubled Samuel. Samuel is a disturbed young boy who is obsessed with his mother, and is obviously dealing with the repercussions of growing up without a father. Wiseman does exceptionally well for a boy as young as he is, and injects a lot of complexity beneath the surface. Bravo, young sir. Bravo.
Beyond that, every facet of the production is absolutely spot-on and contributes towards creating a masterpiece of modern cinema. Radek Ladczuk's stunning cinematography perfectly compliments the complex and tragic nature of the storyline, delivering us beautifully crafted images that work wonders for the tale being told. Composer Jed Kurzel does a fine job with crafting a subtle and appropriate score that accentuates every scene with class and elegance without distracting from what we are seeing. Production and costume design is top-notch stuff, creating a world that feels true to life while also having just a slight enough hint of exaggeration to build towards the moody sense of tone established. And the editing by Simon Njoo is just spot-on, with a grand sense of pacing that helps each and every scene build in tension like a wire ready to snap at any instant.
There is only one simple and elegant way to say it- "The Babadook" is a flawless classic in the genre. Despite only being two years old at the time I write this review, it has already shown itself to be one of the greatest horror films ever crafted, and it will without doubt continue to be admired for years, decades and generations to come. And thus, it easily earns a perfect 10 out of 10 from me. Worth seeing for everyone who loves cinema, horror or otherwise.