"If it's in a word. If it's in a look. You can't get rid of the Babadook. A rumbling sound then 3 sharp knocks 'ba BA-ba DOOK DOOK DOOK!' that's when you'll know that he's around. You'll see him if you look. This is what he wears on top. He's funny don't you think? See him in your room at night and you won't sleep a wink. I'll soon take off my funny disguise. Take heed of what you've read... Once you see what's underneath you're going wish you were dead. You start to change when I get in... the Babadook growing right under your skin."
I have been looking forward to seeing this movie for what feels like forever now, since last winter when a friend of mine, Tim, showed me the trailer. Wow, that was frightening. The passage above is from a fictitious children's book featured in the movie called THE BABADOOK. I like the idea of those old fairy tales we were told as children that were far too violent by today's standards, the classic Grimm's Fairy Tales. This movie takes the idea of a storybook too frightening for kids and goes a whole other step further. And it is terrifying.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Amelia lives alone in a big dark house with her young son Samuel. Amelia's husband died seven years ago while driving her to the hospital to give birth to Samuel. She never quite got over his death and raising a child alone, especially one with a lot of energy and an active imagination, is never easy. Amelia suffers from nightmares, when she sleeps she relives the fatal crash that took her husband. The lack of sleep is wearing her down. Samuel too has been having trouble sleeping, but not from nightmares... It's the man in the closet that's kept him from sleeping.
To help him sleep Amelia reads him a bedtime story. Sam picks a book titled The Babadook. The book appears custom made with no publication date or distribution information. She asks him where he got the book and Sam says he found it on the shelf. She reads it to him (see above passage). The more she reads the more disturbed by this book she becomes. Then they hear knocking... She stops reading and both sleep very little that evening.
Strange noises are heard throughout the house. Sam begins acting out at school. Amelia is worn down further and further. She sees things in her room at night. One night her bedroom door opens. A low creaking of the hinges rouses her. The shadows seem to grow deeper in the dark. She finds herself retreating underneath her covers. Her bed shifts, as if someone else were climbing on top. Then she hears a weathered voice whisper "Ba-ba-dooooook..."
I don't want to say anymore about the movie because I want you to watch it! It hasn't been since MAMA or THE CONJURING that I've had such a good scare like this one. The illustrations of the book and sick little nursery rhyme are ghastly brilliant. The Babadook itself is a franchise worthy horror character that I feel could carry a series of films on its own. The acting is very well down and the plot is executed slowly yet perfectly paced. And the sound, my God, the sound! Watch this on Blu Ray simply for the ambient noises in the film. They add a whole new height of horror to an already frightening film.
My only little complaint is the special effects in a few moments. There are a select few scenes where the CGI reminds me of something rendered during the mid-90's. The scenes are quick but the bad CGI is kinda noticeable. I've said it before and I'll say it again, CGI ain't got nuthin' on the real thing." In this case though I'm not sure how the filmmakers would get around it. In any event this did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the film. You must check this one out! It's going in my collection for sure!
Overall Ranking: 7 out of 10
Nude-O-Meter: 0 out of 10
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