The Babadook

Audience Reviews

View More (1000+)

Ash P Last year, this movie was re-released in theaters for a limited time to celebrate its TV year anniversary. Some folks in the comment section of the ten year anniversary trailer did recommend this movie for me to check out. I just forgot about it. One year later, I figured this month of October would make up for it to give this a watch, and I will admit this. It is silly at times, but the themes that revolve around the Babadook make this movie a damn good psychological horror movie. Just a heads up, there will be some spoilers. You have been warned. Six years have passed since the death of the husband of his wife, Amelia Vanek, played by Essie Davis, as he was driving her to the hospital to give birth to their son, Samuel, played by Noah Wiseman, via a car accident. Now Amelia is a single mother, raising her troubled son who is displaying erratic behavior, causing trouble in school and in their social life. One night, Samuel picks out a book for his mother to read called Mister Babadook. How did the book get there is beyond me, to be honest. After reading it, Samuel is displaying more sporadic behavior in their social life, shouting out that it was the Babadook that is after him. Amelia doesn't believe in her son at first until things get dark, noticing that the Babadook is more than just a storybook. I mentioned earlier that the Babadook is more than what he is. The symbolism of the Babadook is about grief and the fear of madness. Amelia's grief of the loss of her husband and the fear of losing her son. The more she suppresses it, the more she would fall into darkness and succumb to madness. Which was more or less displayed as we reached the third act of the movie. Going after Samuel technically pushes her further along with trying to get her son to go to sleep that she would get angry enough to yell at him, which makes you wonder that it's also the Babadook's influence. Sleep deprivation also takes a play when the son is becoming paranoid with the entities presence which leads to the mother suffering through sleep deprivation despite giving him sedatives so she could get a good night's sleep every once in a while. I admit that the last scene has me question more, but I would assume there's more to it just by looking at that corner. The creepy imagery that was used in the movie was spot on along with the transition between night and day. I would also like to admit that some parts of the movie do get silly at times. I know it's mean to laugh at some of them, However, you can't help but wanna laugh at them. I get it, it is a very low-budget film. Like that one bed shaking scene had me snicker a bit until the creepy imagery took over. Or that time when they had that little car crash that's more like a bump to another person's car as they were driving and the Babadook was just messing with Amelia's head. Then you have that book, which, again, where did that thing even come from? It's interesting to keep in mind the pop-up book foreshadowing the Babadook, including the time when it pieced itself back together to add extra details of foreshadowing to the mother before she had burnt it. Pretty graphic, too. Couldn't help but imagine if it's real or not. Oh, wait. There kinda is. Unfortunately, it's pricey for being a replica. Helluva storybook to show your kids before they get nightmares. The acting is also good for mother and son to get along with not only to themselves, but to society, too. Between Amelia's sister, the heads of the school Samuel goes to, the social workers, the neighbor next door, despite not doing much. To be fair, she is a sick elderly woman, and Amelia's other friends would recommend her to move on from her husband's death. At first, Samuel can be annoying from the beginning, but he does grow to be better as he would fight back at the final act of the movie. He is a kid, after all, so he's written like that. No reason to hate him, and Noah Wiseman plays him amazingly. Same for Essie Davis playing as Amelia, mixed with various emotions from concerned to sorrow to malice. Especially when she had played as sleep deprived and is a single mother. I get why this was a near masterpiece for a small budget psychological horror film, and I'd have to recommend it if you're looking for something to pass the time in the month of Halloween. Jennifer Kent and her crew cooked with this one. It was based on this short film called Monster, which she also directed and wrote. Be aware of the shadows, for the Babadook might be lurking. I'm gonna give it nine pop-up Babadook out of ten. 9/10. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/20/25 Full Review Chris B A movie that finally works without cheap thrills. Chilling compassion. The innermost fear that needs to be fed on human emotions. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 10/19/25 Full Review Yasin M Anyone who says the child is so annoying it makes the movie unwatchable clearly hasn't even watched the movie. I think it was a great movie. Though it was less scary than I expected, it turned out to be sadder than I thought. Especially in the first half the child struggles with severe mental health issues, and people who complain about him are obviously missing the point of the movie. The ending was a little confusing to me but nonetheless I really enjoyed the movie and I would reccomend it to others. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/12/25 Full Review Fire T. Was slower paced but I got invested. A solid movie overall Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/04/25 Full Review Paul D. Hi quality take of the Boogyman . Suitably creepy and high quality story of single motherhood, loss, loneliness with a creepy twist as "Thee Babadook" threatens to rip a mother and her petulant son apart. Excellent atmosphere and lots of creeping dread. Not gory or bloody. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/02/25 Full Review Jude R. Absolutely bonkers! Couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/29/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Babadook

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Most Popular at Home Now