Making Peace with Your Monsters The Babadook is a 2014 debut psychological horror film directed by Jennifer Kent. The movie has generated wide critical acclaim with the general audience and the critics alike, being revered for both its plot and performance. Good use of cinematography has been made, allowing the filmmakers and producers to portray a narrative in a fresh and interesting fashion. The pop-up book used as a catalyst for Babadook’s appearance is especially impressive, having been no doubt crafted with great care and attention to detail. Lighting choices and sound design further increase the appeal of the movie and submerge the audience into its depressing, heavy mood. However, what lies in the center of this film is not its presentation, but the story it’s trying to tell through the intense interactions between the characters. Throughout its runtime, The Babadook engrosses the watcher, translating both it’s messaging and intent well. Effectively utilizing strong performances from its two lead actors, the movie deals with subjects of trauma, loss, and the hardships of being a single parent. The Babadook combines the appeal of psychological horror and traditional horror, creating a narrative that is both engaging, mentally challenging, and very emotional at its core (Scott). The main and supporting characters can be seen as real people with their own struggles, thoughts, and values. Interestingly, the movie uses the signature figure of The Babadook not just as a simple monster, but as a way to promote emotional growth to resolve the problems that continue to the family. Babadook is a movie about trauma and learning to heal from it by confronting your own struggles, gradually working through them while giving yourself room to breathe. The Plot The main plot of the movie centers on 2 main characters: the mother Amelia and her 6-year old son Samuel. The pair live in the city of Adelaide together, with Amelia raising her child as a single mother. As revealed by the narrative shortly after the start of the film, Samuel’s dad has died on the day of his birth, leaving a devastating impact on the two. The boy exhibits unusual behavior and appears to be a problem child for the mother and the people around them. He often acts impulsively without thinking of the consequences of his actions or reacts in radical ways, which can be attributed to his rough childhood. The boy’s behavior elicits worry from the mother and the protective Services that are convinced Amelia does not have the sufficient qualification. The main conflict arises, consequently, when the pair find an unknown book in their house, and Amelia reads it as a bedtime story. The book Describes the Babadook, a creature that scares and torments people that know of its existence. By reading the book, the family has unknowingly invited The Babadook into their home and has to deal with his presence for the duration of the film. Samuel is the first to recognize the problem, trying to fight it in his own, childish ways, while Amelia largely dismisses his actions. A series of sudden, usual events is therefore blamed on Samuel himself, making the mother more erratic and paranoid about the state of her fami