The Video Shelf: The Babadook

This one had potential.  I like the set up—mom discovers a weird children’s book about “the Babadook”  that suggests that her son’s terror of monsters is not just all in his imagination.  She’s forced to confront the possibility of some sinister presence in the family home.

Alas, it very quickly becomes obvious that writer/director Jennifer Kent isn’t interested in the book-as-harbinger-or-portal-of-evil and that it is offered only as an outward manifestation of the bat-shit crazy mother’s batshit craziness.   The hackneyed trope of projection becomes the springboard to a handful of “creepy” CGI shots of the Babadook, a series of camera-rattling “frightening” action sequences, a few jump scares, and a seemingly unending final night of conflict that offers more fake climaxes than a pornographic triple-feature.   All in the service of an ending that is as unconvincing as it is unsatisfying. 

There are a few legitimately chilling moments, but, honestly, why should I fucking care?  They are certainly  not worth all the time and fuss.  The performances are adequate—but when you only have one note to play that’s not setting the bar very high.
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Some people will tell you this is the scariest thing they’ve ever seen.  These are often the same people that think Hereditary is a great movie.  People like this cannot be reasoned with.  Just look at them funny and walk away.   

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