There are not many modern horror films that pay true, unrelenting homage to the classics. There have been countless attempts over the years but those directors that have succeeded are few and far between. Traditional horror masterpieces do not rely on cheap thrills or special effects, quite the opposite if you really think about it, and the horror films that have resonated throughout the decades are cinematically perfect in comparison to what we’ve seen as of late. I think it is safe to say that over the last ten to fifteen years the horror films presented to audiences have been lackluster presentations at best. What happened to the hair raising, spine tingling terror we were shown in Psycho or The Shining? When did scripts disintegrate from the literary masterpieces they once were into whatever it is they have become today? We can continue to ask ourselves these questions, or we can sit down and watch Jennifer Kent’s new film The Babadook, releasing in the U.S. later on this month.
A truly creepy film, The Babadook will undoubtedly be the scariest movie you see this year. Outside of the classic Commonwealth humor we have come to know and love from any film released by any one of the former British sovereign states, there is not a single moment that wont keep you on the edge of your seat. As human beings, we are inherently familiar with what is “real life” and what is not. The Babadook pushes these limits of our reality and forces us to question, along with the two main characters, what is actually happening. There are several underlying motifs that pay compliment to this, most notably the ever-present sense of love, and it is very rare that a horror film will lead you to contemplate such deep topics.
The characters experience incredibly real emotions in relation to the traumatic loss of Samuel’s father and it is Kent’s representation of their daily struggles that allows you to empathize with both Samuel and Amelia. As the viewer, you are provided with incredible character build up, which plays a crucial role in the relationship you maintain with Samuel, but, more significantly, impacts the way you view Amelia throughout the film. Left to raise her son on her own after the untimely death of her husband, Amelia is forced to face her personal demons, which stem from the guilt and anger she feels because of the circumstances of her husbands death. Torn between loving her only child and missing her late husband, Amelia must face the tribulations Samuel is experiencing and she must learn how to help him navigate through his blurred conception of reality. When he presents her with an unknown, seemingly disturbing storybook, we begin to see their “normal” existence change into a terrifying possession and a race for their lives.
Kent dazzles her viewers with an incredible movie that is cast perfectly, shot beautifully, written excellently and conveyed seamlessly; and it is safe to say that The Babadook is a refreshing modern day scary movie that will chill you down to your core.
