You know you've made it when the director of The Exorcist declares your first feature the most terrifying film he's ever seen. An original creation from the mind of Aussie writer-director Jennifer Kent, the shadowy, demonic Mister Babadook is the title character from a childrens book that pops up on 6-year-old Samuels (Noah Wiseman) shelf one night. The gist of the book is that when a child is asleep at night, the scary-as-hell apparition will signal its arrival with "a rumbling sound then three sharp knocks," float above the kids bed, and, yeah, you get where this is going. Beyond the page, the Babadook has other plans for Sam's mom, Amelia (Essie Davis), a single mother who, six years later, is still mourning her husbands death via car accident. The wreck happened while they were en route to the hospital for Sam's birth. Preying on her vulnerability, Mister Babadook eventually revises its narrative and illustrations to show what Amelia could do to Samuel if the Babadook were to inhabit her mentally exhausted and physically overwhelmed body and soul. Overall, The Babadook is smart, respectful horror that puts character and emotional issues first. In a movie industry that throws cheapie, found-footage films into theaters every quarter to make a quick buck, The Babadook is an increasingly rare breed that undoubtedly deserves to be championed. Whats your favorite female-helmed horror movie? Let us know in the comment section below.
Jesse Gumbarge is editor and chief blogger at JarvisCity.com - He loves old-school horror films and starting pointless debates. You can reach out at: JesseGumbarge@JarvisCity.com
