Review of The Babadook (2014) by Dana F — 24 Oct 2015
Hands down, this is one of the best horror films I've seen in decades. The horror genre has really stepped up its game! This film scared the piss outta me, so as a straight-up horror film, it hits all the marks and is really well done.
The situations are believable and the characters are sympathetic, so by the time the Babadook shows up, you're already hooked into the story, primed, and ready for a good scaring. And boy does it deliver on the scares.
Even so, the true genius of this film is in the subtext. Look beneath the horror of the Babadook and you'll find a psychological drama... I really want to talk more about that, but I don't want to ruin anything for anyone, as the moment I figured out the subtext was the best part of the experience for me.
Suffice it to say that the Babadook is an allegory for something, and once you realize what it is, everything clicks. Even the wonky ending, which is bizarre for a horror film, suddenly makes sense.
This is an extremely well-crafted film with several themes and is horrific in many different ways, and thus can be interpreted many different ways. It's freaky and creepy and stands on its own as a great horror flick, but it's so much more than meets the eye.
.
This review of The Babadook (2014) was written by Dana F on 24 Oct 2015.
The Babadook has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
