The Babadook
2014
****
Director: Jennifer Kent
Cast: Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Hayley McElhinney, Daniel Henshall, Barbara West, Ben Winspear
Amelia is close to a breaking point trying to raise her difficult and demanding 6-year-old son Sam all by herself. The boy is convinced that there are monsters in the house, and reading a creepy pop-up book called Mister Babadook only makes things worse. Jennifer Kent's directorial debut is an extremely creepy and powerful psychological horror film about a woman who is afraid of losing her mind and what she might do to her own child. Kent offers sustained tension in place of easy jump scares. Essie Davis gives a stunning performance as Amelia.
