Review of The Babadook (2014) by Will M — 09 Dec 2018

I'd heard crazy good things about this, which is always a blessing and a curse. Expectations and all. The plot centers on a children's book, and the malevolent, eponymously titled ghoul. Aside from being a gorgeously designed pop up book with beautiful art, the children's book-ness of it all provides the film with a twisted innocence feel, which is always unsettling.

The performance of Essie Davis as the mother is incredible. She is pushed all the way to breaking point and beyond, and her performance is authentic all the way through, in the proud tradition of other horror film leading ladies who just have a totally shit time of it for the majority of their films.

I love films but I'm not particularly clever with films. I need subtext to be pretty loud for me to pick up on it, and in this film it is screaming. The real world horror that the main character is going through is clear and understandable and horrible and adds lots of depth to an otherwise straightforward ghost-ish story.

The big issue of it all was that the child of the main character was so shrill and awful that it killed a lot of drama for me when he was placed in peril over the course of the film. I did not fear for his safety, as his injury would have provided sweet relief from his obnoxious, screaming voice.

The whole thing acted as an advert for never having children that I shan't soon forget. Also, there's no fear like the fear that envelops me whenever a family dog is introduced at the beginning of a horror film.