Review of The Babadook (2014) by Jovon B — 09 Jun 2016

Bristling with infrequent bursts of creativity and originality - not to mention a downright chilling sequence between Essie Davis and Benjamin Winspear - The Babadook shows immense promise for the future of writer/director Jennifer Kent.

Unfortunately, her feature length debut is high in character interactions but little on genuine fright and/or intimidation. The film degrades into downright unwatchable, though, through Kent's characterization of Samuel, who is unbearable with every scene he is in and, even at the film's climactic turning of the tides, does nothing to redeem himself.

Kent just barely pushes out a film that, while not reaching the peaks of The Conjuring, succeeds by not reaching the troughs of Ouija or Annabelle.