The Babadook portrays the traumatized lives of a mother and her son after an evil storybook character named Mister Babadook intrudes their home. Aussie director and writer, Jennifer Kent, succeeds in creating characters with just enough depth and believability that we care about them. The story is far from novel, but the manner in which it is conveyed makes all the difference.
Each frame is methodically composed to have the maximum impact. To call The Babadook as a horror movie is not entirely justified for it is more of a psychological thriller with shades of horror. I liked the dreary feel that is maintained throughout the film. Also, the background score enhances the edgy atmosphere.
There are hardly any scenes in The Babadook that will make you jump out of your chair. I am sure that the director did not want to make a movie catering to the die-hard horror fans. The Babadook is a subtly crafted movie that takes into account facets like child psychology, effects of sleep deprivation, the frailty of human bonds, unsatiated sexual desires, and many more.
There are no over-the-top special effects and whatever drama there is unfolds through the expressions on the faces of the actors. Certain scenes from this movie could very well be a part of a classic horror movie or for that matter a psychological thriller.
Essie Davis, who plays Amelie, a woman who has lost her husband in a car crash, is exceptionally sublime. She along with Noah Wiseman, who portrays her son Samuel, manage to keep the audiences hooked for the better part of 90 minutes. Noah Wiseman plays this gritty yet innocent kid with poise, and I am sure that we will see a lot more of him in the future.
For all those who want to see an out-and-out horror movie, The Babadook is not the right choice. However, for the rest of you who want to engage in something more subtle, The Babadook is one of those movies that you don’t want to miss.
What do you think?