THE BABA-WHO? THE BABADOOK!
Ah, the movies that come out of other countries. Some are weird and demented like A Serbian Film. There were some parts in that one that I actually had to turn away from. Because there is just some stuff you can’t un-see. I am still trying to burn the images of Human Centipede out of my brain. It’s really only one main part, but I could have lived my life happily without seeing it. So every once in a while you’ll find one of these low-budget, independent films. This one comes from Australia.
It’s called The Babadook. It’s a creepy story that centers on a mother, Amelia, and her son, Samuel. Sam is not the most “normal” child on the block. He gets in trouble at school, and has this fascination with fairy tale monsters, to the point that everyone is questioning Amelia’s parenting. So one night, before bed, he picks up this red book that just appeared on the shelf called Mister Babadook.
As Amelia reads the images get more disturbing, and completely terrifies Samuel. He insists that the Babadook is real, but Amelia keeps repeating “THERE IS NO Babadook!” She rips the book apart only to have it appear all taped up on her door step. As the film goes on, more and more things keep occurring, and Amelia gets infected by the story-demon. In order to get inside of her, sexual pun intended, he taps into her deepest pain: the tragic death of her husband. And in doing so, she begins to lose herself and her sanity.
After being infected, and many sleepless nights, Amelia finally gets completely taken over and is on a rampage. She’s going after Samuel, but he manages to fight her off. Which I have to say, is pretty impressive for a 6-year-old. He used back-pack-catapult, and a dart gun that he made himself. They’re now in the basement when the final “battle” takes place. Somehow the power of his love is what saves her. Which I guess could make sense because it technically is a dark fairy tale. She is saved by the power of love (anyone else singing that song?), when Samuel reminds her, “You can’t get rid of the Babadook.” Finally, after one more encounter, she is able to subdue the entity and keep it contained, protecting herself and her son. But not before the final confrontation with her deepest pain.
It’s a dark, kind of slow-paced, and story-driven tale. It probably won’t end up in “top movie” lists, but I enjoy these independent flicks. There’s a certain charm to them that high-budget films don’t. It’s different and that’s what I like about it. The acting is pretty descent and there are some parts that make you scream, “Shut that fucking kid up!” The lady that plays Amelia does a great job. The character arc that she has to go through is kind of universal. She starts off practically resentful of her son, and she has to go through shit to become a whole person again. I think it is definitely worth checking out.
Watch The Babadook online now