Mark Kermode reviews The Babadook 

Excellent film. Miles above the usual horror film. Genuinely unsettling and it works on many levels.

7:06 Kermode's review

I loved the film. It is really disturbing and does stay with you. I disagree with some of Mark's comments about her being scared of her child though. In my opinion The Babadook represented her depression that she was struggling to control. She resented her child and was finding it hard to love or even like him at times. When The Babadook eventually consumed her this was her giving into the depression. But she fights it and controls it. Keeping it in the basement is just her way of being able to go somewhere quiet to get her feelings of grief and depression out away from her child and keeping it in check.

This has to be one of Mark's most glowing and flowing reviews

It's telling that most negative criticism seems to stem from parts of the plot being "unexplained". The film works on an emotional and metaphorical level. It is not a fantasy story about a magic book.

The only horror film that's ever truly scared me. Perfectly executed. Her performance was phenomenal.

A highly acclaimed modern horror film and Mark likes it very much? I need to see this immediately.

Finally watched this on Netflix, had high expectations and it it lived up to them. Really good, even when you figure out exactly what the reality of the film is, it still surprises and creeps you out.

The clip they showed looked creepy. Finally a decent looking horror film.

Absolutely love the film! One of my faves now. The only complain I could make is that some of the Babadook sounds are 90's stock sounds that have been overused like the growls that most of us recognize from the videogame Doom. And one thing that Mark don't say is that part of the budget was kickstarted, wich is fenomenal. I hope to see more movies from Jennifer Kent in the future, that's for sure!

Saw it for the first time last night, very impressive. The mother & son were played brilliantly, and the Babadook itself wasn't shown too much, which was a good thing.

Mark's view on what horror is supposed to be is beautiful and everything I believe

Really looking forward to watching this when it release on blu ray.

dragged in the middle, but what a fantastic ending! we must all accept and even nurture our shadow/dark side.

As an only child raised by a single mother this film is literally the stuff of my nightmares (my mum's lovely by the way, hence nightmares.) I can't imagine how people from different backgrounds could find it as terrifying, but it's great to see that they do. I just watched Jennifer Kent's short film 'Monster' and that has filled me with even more dread, I can't wait to see what she does next. This has been a fantastic year for female performances. For me Essie Davies, Julianne Moore and Rosamund Pike have all been Oscar worthy. I hope Rosamund wins, either an Oscar or a Kermode award.

Just watched it, it's incredibly well done. Shudder inducing. The ending doesn't let it down but underlines the story. Like the way Mr. Babadook is never seen full-on in the way Freddy Kruger or even the Alien would be, just melting into the shadows or slithering along the ceiling.

just finished watching it, great film! Just wish we got to see the Babadook a little more

Mark that was a superb review.

I love this film, a really decent horror! I thought that it really smartly tied the mother's denial of her grief with her denial of the Babadook. The acting and story were great, and the overall atmosphere was pretty heavy. Decent stuff, way more thoughtful than the usual modern slasher - maybe that's why some people didn't get it?

I saw it it's absolutely brilliant!! Got really subtle psychological subtext to it definitely go and see it!!!

You had me at We Need to Talk About Kevin.

This was a good watch. Watch in a dark room alone. It's intense and atmospheric. I'd describe it as We Need to Talk about Kevin meets The Shining :)

The Babadook is a film i think people need to go and watch more than once to truly understand what it's trying to bring across to its audience. For me it was very clever and genuinely freaky, a deeply psychological and unsettling experience.

God bless the Good Doctor. Seriously. He is the only film critic whose opinion I genuinely pay attention to and this review is a perfect example of why.

"we can change it in post production if you want " 5 LIVE.?!

I completely agree! Truth be told, just listening to this review made a shiver run down my spine as I remembered the film.

I've beenn waiting sooooo long for this to be released. A film that has genuine scares unlike the Annabel's and paranormal franchises!

CANNOT WAIT TO SEE THIS

Saw this tonight - THIS YEARS "THE OTHERS". Loved it.

I've never been more unsettled and creeped out watching a horror movie than I was with The Babadook. No other horror movie has done that for me, except maybe The Exorcist.

The Los Angeles premiere is tomorrow (Sat 25th Oct) at the Cinefamily. After this review I just bought my ticket!

When I finished the film, i was just a little put out by how it ended, with it not completely making sense to me at the time, but it really stayed with me and festered in my brain, and might be one of the most disturbing films despite the fact that the only thing that dies in the movie (spoilers) is the dog. Turns out the scariest thing in the world isn't the babadook, but the way it manifests itself in the mother

Watched it recently for the first time on Netflix and really loved it. Great movie

Loving the Papa Lazarou reference!

I think it's a film about grief, and the madness of it.

Just watched it an hour ago, it is a legitimately scary movie!! Its been a long while since i was really watching it between my fingers, v scary and its quite a simple way. All fear in your mind type stuff, i like howthey managed to get a 15 rating too

Definitely one of the better horror films of recent years

I can't even google the name anymore because I don't want to come across another image or shot of the Babadook. When a movie unsettles me to that point, I know the film has succeeded in it's goal.

sounds similar in premise to the orphanage, will check this out

I've wanted to see this all year but many people are reluctant to go with me...doesn't help it's barely showing in any cinemas nearby! Hope I get to see it soon - I'm really into traditional horror...my favourites being things like The Exorcist and Ju-On: The Grudge...both the kind of films of which this film appears to hark back to to an extent

Just watched, very good movie. Personally I think the ending symbolizes the conquer of fear which never goes away, you have to manage it on a daily basis.

That is a good review and sold

ok guys my take on the babadook, let me know what you think. So the babadook is made both for your thinkers(look for deeper meaning and messages, themes etc in movies)and your typical movie goer who likes special effects, monsters i.e typical superficial elements of horror movies, and if you take just these superficial elements into your opinion of it, then its still an alright horror by todays standards. BUT, if you look closely, the movie left a trail of breadcrumbs, that if followed, will show you its awesome badass secret and in my opinion the true ending. I feel there are 2 ways of looking at it. 1. THE BABADOOK IS REAL(omg :o ), a family is haunted by an evil ghost called the babadook and eventually beat it by being brave/believing in themselves/loving each other(unity at the end between mum and son) blah blah blah, basically the plot to any generic horror movie involving a ghost. OR... 2. (brace yourself for breadcrumbs)THE BABADOOK IS A METAPHORE!!! (omg no way :0 ) ok so, its obviously hinted that the babdook is possibly in the moms head and that shes just going insane. BUT, how does the director tell us this? First of all, kind old lady nextdoor asks is mom alright as she is "always bad at this time of the year" (coming up to her husbands anniversary/kids birthday(same day) ) so we know her mental health has definatly wavered at this time of the year in the past. Second, when they read the full babadook book, the last words are "when you see its face you'll wish you were dead" (the book is of the babadook murdering the dog, boy and woman). Now guys, when you think about this on a personal level, what face could you see, that commited these absolutly evil, derranged, atrocities, that would make you wish you were dead, think of the scariest face ever! im guessing you dont feel like killing yourself when you think of ghosts/monsters? so what face could it be???... your own face. for me, the only face, that killed these people(&dog), that could scare me so much id want to kill myself is my own face. Have a think about it. Finally, the t.v show. So mom is watching T.V late at night, twitching like a lunatic, and something strange comes on telly. Now its very late, im not sure was she doped up but definatly at this stage losing her mind combined with sleep deprivation. The T.V shows a news report of a tragedy of a mother who murdered her son(and maybe dog, i cant remember) and then killed herself. It shows in the corner of the screen, as a body is being stretchered out, moms face looking out the window(i think this is the directors way of letting us know that she can see this situation through her own eyes and not just the t.v).The report states that it was the little boys birthday. Now maybe this was just a random news report that had nothing to do with the movie, or maybe it was a psychotic hallucination of a subconcious plan forming in the mothers mind as it slowly broke trying to deal with husbands death and sons perpetual misbehaviour. So the final scene, is her in the garden, just after "feeding the babadook" (i feel this is her accepting her insanity/pain and metaphorically feeding/nurturing/ and even loving it). Its her sons birthday (woohoo everyones happy, mom and son cuddling, good times ahead) and this is the scene i feel that the director left ambiguous so the simple story of the babadooks defeat and taming could be taken OR... for those who paid close attention to the hints left through the movie, the mom cuddles and caresses her son as its her last time holding him alive, because its his birthday, and what happens on the little mans birthday guys? (pssssp look above at the t.v show section!) ok so thats my thoughts on it, let me know what you think guys. would love to hear any additions/critisisms to them. And yes i know my grammer/general english isnt great, im not trying to impress with it. Its my ideas im hoping youll enjoy :D PEACE

Great scary movie. Reminded me of "The Ring". Outstanding monster, great characters and a storyline that twists and turns right to the end. More cerebral than most films in this genre. A+

Possibly one of the scariest films I've ever seen in my life next to the shining

I really want the U.S. release date to make its rounds for this movie. This sounds incredible.

I really enjoyed the film, however I was left with more questions then answers. Looking forward to watching again so I can work out what happened. This should be no reflection on the film, but more that I must be too stupid to get it.

i saw it last night ;) really enjoyed it

How strange that he didn't mention a single thing about the Exorcist given it's chock full of references to it.

Babadook = A bad book really liked this film. requires a bit of thought so if you don't get it, don't be put off by looking up explanations to the film. you'll see it in a whole different light and make you a smarter person.

I thought the film was going to be about a little monster that goes around leaving spooky pop-up books on peoples' doorsteps and then terrorising them if they dare read it. It's nothing like that at all. Still good tho.

If you understand the meaning of most of the things you realise it is a master piece.

Spot on!

The Babadook is mentioned by the Russian mobster, in "John Wick".

People go into this film with the wrong expectations. It's not a traditional horror film, man wearing mask hides in wardrobe with big knife and terrorises high school students, or whatever premise the run of the mill slasher films take on nowadays. This is psychological horror, at its best. It's about the manifestation of feelings, and the sheer terror of those feelings and the unknown. I've seen it and think it's a really good, well made film with great performances and some genuinely scary moments. Just because you don't understand or get something doesn't mean it's a bad movie. If you're truly passionate about films you'll look behind what's being conveyed and look for the messages the film is trying to get across. If horror to you is things like paranormal activity or whatever people flock to the cinemas in their masses to see now ( I swear people only go as everyone is watching it and it's the cool, fashionable thing to say you love these films even if you don't) but the babadook is now up there with the conjuring, the exorcist and let me in as my fave horrors.

Arr they didn't leave in the bit where he throws an email in the bin for saying that Annabelle was better than the babadook

This movie made me weep

This film looks very good. I am looking forward to seeing it.

I can't understand why it takes Mark six minutes into his review before he explains what happened to the protagonist - Husband dies on the way to taking his wife to the delivery room.

You're my wife now.

Loved this film. Wouldn't really call it a horror movie although it tells an amazing story.

Great film!

Agree completely with Mark. Strong film.

It was never called turning of the screw on film it was known as 'the innocents'

This film was so god damn amazing scariest movie in years

*SPOILERS* even when the main character violently strangles her dog to death, the film still makes you care for her.

Watched it and loved. Some of it was so screwed up!

Such a great film which just proves to me how crappy most of the modern jumpscare dependant horror films are these days. Kind of has a exorcist mixed with the shining feel. Now i'm going to go in case he's watching!

This guy gets it! I thought the babadook was a really good movie and I haven't felt so freaked out in a long time. jump scares are just boring and cliché.

This was a great movie.

You say it's half way between pure horror and character study, that's because it's about the horror experienced by the character. See? That's how 2 ideas merge...

Hello Daaaaaavvee!

i really liked the movie, and i AM attached to the movie , emotionally. in fact, i got an inspiration of a romance novel from the movie... i do a lil bit of writing

I think Mark sometimes forgets that we don't have his polymathic knowledge of the horror genre and sometimes neglects to speak English ;).

A good movie, but in a lot of ways it reminded me of The Exorcist, and the special effects were like Paranormal Activity, like when the boy gets pulled upstairs by an invisible force, then slammed against the wall and the mother and son land on the bed and the bed shakes violently, lifts, etc. It just wasn't original enough for me and could have easily been better without the typical horror cliches.

People in my cinema were laughing during the screening. Soo distracting I guess its pretty divisive though.

The Babadook is my favourite horror film

Director Jennifer Kent delivers A horror film that deals with the fear of parents afraid of things they can't see in A stylish & very original horror film that’s destined to be A classic. (93%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)

I wanted to see bit the where Mark rips up correspondence from someone who though Annabelle was better.

I am generally no fan of horror. But since this movie gets a lot of praise for not just being scary but being an emotional story in it's core. I am a fan for Pan's Labyrinth for a lot of reasons ,well who isn't, but for a big part for it's strange and nasty emotional core. So would be this movie for me?

The most effective way to scare me in film is to feature a pale faced kid with dark rings round their eyes.

A ghost story with

I just don't see what's so special about it. It has a very good lead performance and its scary but its really not that different from The Conjuring and a dozen of those haunted house movies. It encompasses all those ideas about being scared of the children through cliches like rattling furniture and bumps in the night. The guy from Snowtown is in the movie and they don't even use him.

Just seen it and I have to say I'm very disappointed. It's definitely a smart film and I actually love the ideas (particularly the ending and what it represents) and it's even very well-acted (really good central performance), well-directed (beautiful cinematography!) and has a good score. However, it didn't scare/creep me out one bit (or at least not nearly as much as I wanted it to) and most of the third act (excluding the ending) was even completely silly (the entire episode when she becomes "possessed" by the Babadook and screams around in "overacting" mode in a seemingly distorted voice reminded me of the similarly unscary and disappointing last act of the Conjuring). Some moments even seemed somewhat cheesy and heavy-handed like the husband appearing several times even though I understand that that's part of the film's exploration of the mother's grief. The biggest disappointment for me, though, is that it didn't move me as much as a I wanted it to (that would have made up for a lack of scares, I could have "accepted" it as a convincing drama). Altogether it reminds me of another film I watched after hearing Mark recommend it and then I was disappointed and susprised by the lack of scares and that film is Cronenberg's film the Brood which also has similar interesting ideas I liked - I imagine possibly even being an inspiration on this one. I wish I enjoyed this film as much as most other people did.

liked the film well reviewed creepy from the start

Just saw this in the lovely Curzon Victoria, after hearing goods things. I suppose if it was on TV I might just struggle through it, but it was depressing, irritating and dull most of the time and I didn't feel afraid at any point. The horror genre really needs to revise its ideas at this point about what a scary film is.

There may be some sweeping statements in this review, as I don't recognise from it my own motives for watching horror. I think, perhaps, that melancholia may be subjective to an extent. I don't find The Exorcist, Alien or Aliens for example to be melancholy. Where The Babadook is concerned, there is melancholia aplenty, though, which made it a bit of a dreary experience for me. I'm not sure what everyone took away from this film, but it seemed to me to be about a woman having a breakdown from which, even though she seems to, she never actually emerges, even at the end. I'm not certain, having only seen it once, but I don't think any other adult witnesses anything supernatural at all (even at the very end, in the cellar, the woman is alone), but they all see her falling relentlessly to pieces because of sleep deprivation and emotional pain.

BA BA DOOK DOOK DOOK

Why did she keep the thing and feed it?

Ba ba dook. Dook. Dook. Lol. I loved this movie.

So was there a boogeyman or was mom losing her marbles? The only power in this film was it made me go back and forth with the this is real or no, this is suggestive. This was too Dr. Fraud to be a horror movie. The kid was better than Van Helsing, Dr. Loomis, and Peter Vincent combined! Lol

Borebadook

kill it with fire ^^

I was ery disappointed with it. I loved the mother son stuff and the babadook, but towards the last half hour it went completely nuts. Hated, HATED that part.

Just came from Babadook 5 minutes ago expecting something good after such great reviews this film got. But was a bit dazzled and disappointed, which made me think I am missing something. What made this film special for many people? Is it the inspiring ending? Am I missing smth? ;(

This film looks like it's from the 70s

Finally a good horror! I hope? Starting to lose all hope here...

just 100% not scary

First half of the movie was really good...second..meh.

Well Overrated for me. No where near the heights of The Witch or Midsommar or even Hereditary. Babadook was a horror film for kids.