Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

If it's in a word Or it's in a look You can't get rid Of the Babadook Grief is such a powerful emotion. It clouds your judgment. It colors the way in which you interact with the world, how you see the people in it and how you deal with everyday living. People deal with grief in completely different ways. It can turn to anger or depression. It can make you overcompensate with giddiness. One thing you don't see very often is horror movies that deal with grief as its central theme. Surprisingly, when it is used, it's often used effectively, as in The Orphanage. Or the Babadook. Amelia is a single mother, widowed by a car accident that took the life of her husband. Compounding this issue is that the couple were on their way to the hospital to deliver their son, Samuel. The Babadook opens years after that event, just as Samuels is going to turn seven. His birthdate obviously coincides with the husband's death, so pressure surrounds them. Amelia and Samuel deal with this overwhelming grief in completely different ways. Samuel acts out and has become convinced that an evil presence is going to take his mom away from him. He carries makeshift weapons to school and his interactions with others prove that he lacks certain social cues. He's looked at as a weirdo and no one seems to want to be around him. Amelia, burdened by grief and also trying to make ends meet as a single mother, seems depressed. She frequently spends more time sleeping and when she looks at Samuel, you can see the resentment in her eyes. And as the birth/death date starts to come closer, her depression and tension gradually increases. I haven't even mentioned the titular villain in this movie yet because, like any good horror movie, the story isn't simply about the horrific being. But when a book shows up called Mr. Babadook and depicts horrific events in a pop-up book fashion, Samuel freaks out. More pressure weighs on Amelia. They both become increasingly cognizant that something evil is following them. Mr. Babadook is quite an original creation and when it shows up, it's often freaky and disquieting. Disquieting is actually the best word I can think of to describe this movie. Viewers looking for jump out scares or disturbing violence, etc., probably won't enjoy the more subtle and creeping familial horror here. It's scary and intense at times, but even when it's not trying to scare you, there's a disquieting dread that sits just beneath the surface for the entirety of the film. When I first watched the movie, I didn't particularly care for the resolution. But the more I think about it, the more it seems like the perfect ending to the theme and intent of the movie. One thing the movie does perfectly is the way it presents the story to you. Even as it progresses toward the finale, you doubt whether the events are true or if they're made-up delusions brought on by depression, sleep deprivation and resentment. Fantastic acting, particularly with the weight of the story resting on Essie Davis' (Amelia) shoulders. Grief oftentimes sits below the surface, ready to rear its ugly head when you least expect it. The film examines these powerful emotions and in a way, the Babadook becomes the thematic and visual expression of that emotion. But even as Amelia tries to overcome her grief, you have to remember: You can't get rid of the Babadook.