The Babadook

Amelia (Essie Davis) is a widow who struggles to bring up her emotionally troubled six-year-old son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), while living with unaddressed grief. A day she gave birth to Samuel was the same day her husband Oskar died due to an accident. This is years later and Amelia’s life mainly revolves around stress, loneliness, and quiet bitterness.

Mister Babadook, a mysterious pop-up book marked “The Book That Should Not Be Read”, is found by Samuel one evening on his shelf. The pop-up book carries disturbing rhymes and sinister illustrations that depict a tall figure in a hat who knocks – once acknowledged he cannot be removed.

As Amelia tries to ignore the existence of the book, strange events start happening. Samuel becomes more erratic and paranoid. Amelia starts having hallucinations and fits of anger also. The Babadook isn’t just haunting their house—it’s manifesting from within.

What starts out as otherworldly fright fest morphs into a gripping psychological portrayal of motherhood being submerged by anguish over death. In order for her to overcome the Babadook, she has to face not any demon – but herself.

👤 Characters & Performances

Amelia (Essie Davis)

A powerful, heart-wrenching role played by Essie Davis. Her acting successfully depicted a woman coming undone; her portrayal of grieving, guilty and repressed anger is so raw and deeply human. Thus, she gives the film an emotional depth that sees it sink into darker depths before rising back to light.

Samuel (Noah Wiseman)

Wiseman’s portrayal of Samuel, a brilliant but insecure boy, adds complexity to the movie. Initially annoyingly weird, his actions are actually pleas for help so as to prevent his mother from slipping away from him.

🎞️ Visual Style & Atmosphere

The director of the movie Jennifer Kent has created a universe that feels gloomy and cramped:

This house also becomes another character in itself: cold, grey with peeling wallpaper and shadowy corners.

Amelia’s mental state is reinforced through lighting and color grading—muted tones dominate with just a slight lifting in the final scenes of the movie.

Also, there is a minimalists design around Babadook – like figures which appear like Nosferatu (German Expressionist) that feature jerky movements making them appear unnatural thus amplifying fear through insinuation than goryness.

The Babadook is a living metaphor for grief, depression and repressed trauma. Not just a haunting entity but one that feeds off denialism and fear. As Amelia ignores or suppresses her feelings, the creature grows stronger.

Motherhood and Resentment

Amelia’s love for Samuel does not come without complications, given that she lost her husband because of his birth. It’s only a matter of time before her fatigue and unvoiced anger erupt into moments of terrifying fury. This movie tackles the issue of maternal ambivalence head-on without any sugar coating.

Mental Illness

Insomnia, hallucinations, moodiness and withdrawal are only some indicators that Amelia is spiraling down due to depression and PTSD in the film. The Babadook represents what she cannot put into words.

Acceptance

At the end of it all, Amelia doesn’t kill the Babadook; instead she recognizes its presence. She starts feeding it in the basement. This means that grief never really goes away completely; it has to be handled with care, confined and revered.

🔪 Key Scenes & Chilling Moments

The Book Reading: The discovery of “Mister Babadook” is quietly horrifying, with its childlike rhyme slowly giving way to threats of violence and madness.

As her mind unravels, Davis’s performance becomes increasingly unhinged—culminating in a terrifying sequence where she tries to harm her son under the Babadook’s influence.

The Exorcism Scene: A symbolic “rebirth,” where Amelia confronts the creature with raw maternal fury, forcing it into the basement.

🏆 Critical Reception & Cultural Impact

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Metacritic: 86/100

Universally acclaimed for its originality, emotional depth, and atmospheric dread.

It was called one of the best horror movies of the century by critics and directors such as William Friedkin of The Exorcist fame.

After being jokingly claimed as a “gay symbol” –a meme embraced for its themes of otherness and resilience—it became an icon on queer internet culture.

✅ Final Verdict

This is not just another scary movie; it is an exploration of grief, identity formation, and psychological torture disguised as a monster film. With brilliant direction, horrifying acting performances, and deep allegories this film revolutionized what horror can do: frighten us or show us something new about ourselves.