GUEST CRITIC #67: The Babadook
The Babadook film review
by Abhishek Shivgan
'The Babadook' is one of the best horror movies ever made. It is an Australian horror/thriller film starring Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. The film is based on a short film by the same director, Jennifer Kent.
The plot follows Amelia and her only son, Samuel. She is a widow who lost her husband in a road accident six years ago. One day her son Samuel asks her to read a storybook for him, titled 'Mr. Babadook'. It tells the story of Mr. Babadook who lives in your house and he will come to visit you if you let him in. After a few days, both of them started feeling the presence of evil inside their house.
The film's lead cast, Essie Davis (as Amelia Vanek) has excelled in the film. Her performance is so strong that you would not take your eyes off her. It looks like she was born to play this character. Her acting skills are so natural that you'll forget you're watching a fictional character.
Noah Wiseman (as Samuel Vanek) also did very well as a child artist. He played the role of an annoying and socially inactive child. He enjoys making homemade weapons rather than playing with his friends. His character may disappoint you in the beginning, however, the tables will turn and you will start to feel sympathy for him in the end.
Jennifer Kent did a great job in writing the script by not relying entirely on a monster story. The screenplay perfectly portrays the characters and their lives in the best possible way. It tells the story of a widow who is going through the grief of losing her husband on the day of the birth of her child. Such a tragic story not only supports the plot but also gives the reason why we should care for her.
“Jump scare” is a lame technique currently being used in horror movies. Many film directors load the film with tons of jump scares. I believe they do it because it is effortless. However, It's not an issue unless they are properly executed.
There were some “jumping scares” in this movie as well, but they won't let you down. They are properly executed. Otherwise, the film has no jump scares at all. It is so well directed that even its silence could scare you to death. Looking at the film you would probably say that it is directed by a seasoned veteran director. In contrast, this is the debut film of an Australian actress Jennifer Kent.
There is a saying that, "Cinematography is the heart of cinema." This quote fits perfectly with this film. The cinematography and sound design have made this film a masterpiece. From camera placement to lighting, everything is perfect in this film. Likewise, the sound design gives every scene a little more depth. And when the end comes, it becomes very disturbing and terrifying.
The first 20 minutes will probably be difficult for you to watch due to the slow pacing. In this interval, the film introduces its characters and their lives. The film takes time to build the characters. And once that 21st minute starts, it will keep you on the edge of your seat for the rest of the movie.
If you see The Babadook as a complete monster based film then you will not like it that much. That's because it's not entirely a monster movie. It also depicts the trauma of a family dealing with the loss of their loved one. But if you delve deeper into the character and their life, you will get a lot out of it. So, I highly recommend you to watch this film. This is one of the best horror movie ever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am Abhishek Shivgan. I am a blogger and love write about film related stuff. I also explain different terminologies of films and filmmaking through my blog. My blog url: https://litlost.com/
