10 Horror Movies To Scare The Crap Out Of New Parents

Aside from becoming an unlikely LGBTQ+ icon back in 2017, The Babadook is a chilling metaphor for a variety of mental ailments, from postpartum depression to overwhelming grief.

Part of the reason The Babadook itself is so frightening is that protagonist Amelia Vanek never asks for help, instead letting the horror envelop every aspect of her life. The Australian horror follows Amelia and her six-year-old son Samuel as she raises him alone following the death of her husband Oskar in a car accident while she was in labour.

Trying to navigate the grief of his death, Amelia must also confront Samuel’s fear of a monster that lives with them in the house. The Babadook blends real-life horror with a nightmarish yet sort-of adorable monster straight from a warped children's book juxtaposed so uncomfortably at all times. Not one to watch before the bed time routine - you may find yourself checking every inch of the wardrobes.