"The more you deny, the stronger I get."
synopsis
Directed by Jennifer Kent, this Australian horror film centers on a widowed mother and her troubled young son who discover a sinister children’s book titled “Mister Babadook.” As the eerie figure from the book begins to manifest, the boundaries between supernatural threat and psychological breakdown blur.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
This is grief horror done right. The monster may or may not be literal — what matters is the emotional core. The film explores parental exhaustion, suppressed anger, and trauma with uncomfortable honesty. The scares are restrained but deeply unsettling. It’s less about jump scares and more about the slow erosion of stability. Few horror films capture the claustrophobia of domestic life so effectively.
A quiet night. Best watched when you’re ready for psychological unease rather than popcorn thrills.
Absurdist's Corner
Sometimes the monster under the bed is just unresolved grief with better marketing.
fun facts
The pop-up book was specially created for the film.
The Babadook unexpectedly became an internet meme years after release.
The film premiered at Sundance to strong critical praise.