Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A grieving single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book manifests in their home.
The Babadook is a standout psychological horror film that uses its monster as a deeply effective metaphor for grief and depression. Jennifer Kent's debut feature earns exceptional marks for its layered, emotionally resonant plot and Essie Davis's towering central performance — one of the finest in modern horror. The film's conception is genuinely singular, blending domestic drama with dread in a way few horror films have managed. Novelty is high because its metaphorical architecture is unusually coherent and purposeful. Cinematography is competent and atmospheric but not especially distinctive. The ending, while thematically consistent, is somewhat ambiguous in a way that divides audiences and slightly undercuts the emotional catharsis the film builds toward.