Review of The Babadook (2014) by Odjento — 14 Feb 2015

I believe that this is possibly one of the best horrors to be made in recent years. However, I believe the user score is not as high as people have become accustomed to and expectant of a overused horror trope nowadays: the jump scare.

This film has no jumpscares what so ever and this is why some people may not like it as much as they expect to s**t themselves for a second and then be "all is okay now". The thing that makes the Babadook so scary is that it relies on psychological horror and it's engaging and complex storyline that can actually be dissected and analysed instead of most horror films typical "this person is possessed, save them" or "there is a monster coming to kill us, we must run" or "there's ghosts haunting us".

This films psychological horror really is a breath of fresh air as it's eerie, dark and ambiguous tone and atmosphere really send shivers done your spine. This never makes you jump really, but more makes you feel uncomfortable and unsettled.

The performances are spot on by Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman plays his role excellently: he seems annoying and ungrateful and then turns sympathetic and understandable. 10/10 for creating an original horror that good es back to it's roots; it wants to chill you for days instead of make you jump for a few seconds.

One of the classics of horror now. 10/10. Bravo to Jennifer Kent for creating this masterpiece.