The Babadook

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1:17

The Babadook

2014

1h 33m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

249 Reviews

72%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.

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Critics Consensus

The Babadook relies on real horror rather than cheap jump scares -- and boasts a heartfelt, genuinely moving story to boot.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

09/01/2017

B+

Nestled deep within this teeny Australian thriller packs a simple yet profound message about what it often feels like to be a single parent, and even what it feels like to be the child of that parent.

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Charlotte O'Sullivan

London Evening Standard

10/05/2016

4/5

The Babadook's villains and victims are still running amok in my brain. I think they might be there for some time.

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Noel Murray

Nashville Scene

10/05/2016

What's most terrifying about The Babadook is that Kent grounds a bizarre supernatural premise in very real feelings of anxiety and depression.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Jan 1

3.5/4

How’s this for an endorsement? William Friedkin, who directed the movie often called the scariest ever made (The Exorcist), stated that "I’ve never seen a more terrifying film than The Babadook." That’s a hell of a plug.

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Bryce Hanson

Horror Movie Talk

Sep 23

10/10

This film is an obvious homage to the German expressionist silent films of the 20s that established the earliest foundations of the horror film genre. It is also a deeply modern exploration of grief, the stresses of parenthood, and mental health crises.

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Marya E. Gates

Cool People Have Feelings, Too. (Substack)

10/11/2024

Kent’s film tapped into a lot of visceral fears I had at the time as a woman living alone

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p N

@binley_beng69 Mar 24

oh my god this film is so scary. wow

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Ethan H

@RT22706124 Mar 24

Awful writing, awful acting, beyond corny. If anyone tells you this is good or scary you should severely question that individual’s judgement. What’s truly scary is the butchered execution of this concept and storyline. This movie was unbearably stupid and aggravating. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such an annoying film.

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Page L.

@Page2 Mar 16

Good horror flick, the boy did a great job with his part, w lead woman also did a good job. The camera work could have been better. Over all a dark plot with solid acting and a good story. If you’re a horror freak like me it’s a good take.

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Peter S

@Stotpom Mar 10

How on Earth this dreadful film get any ratings whatsoever? All the characters are decidedly hateful, the acting is embarrassing and the story is pointless.

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Carlos M

@CarlosMZ Feb 19

De las mejores películas recientes de terror que he visto por como se va desarrollando la trama si buscas algo nuevo que ver de terror te la recomiendo del rango de miedo que me dio a mi en lo personal es de un 8 solido de 10 porque la primicia es buena el demonio o ente igual y hay plot twist asi que vale la pena verla si te gusta el terror.

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Sum W

@RT56826483 Feb 11

Great movie and man, I really genuinely got scared shitless! lol

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Jennifer Kent

Director

Essie Davis

Amelia

Daniel Henshall

Robbie

Noah Wiseman

Samuel

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Synopsis

Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her 'out of control' 6 year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she finds impossible to love. Samuel's dreams are plagued by a monster he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook called 'The Babadook' turns up at their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he’s been dreaming about. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, genuinely frightened by her son's behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of a sinister presence all around her, it slowly dawns on her that the thing Samuel has been warning her about may be real.

Director: Jennifer Kent
Producer: Kristina Ceyton, Kristian Moliere
Screenwriter: Jennifer Kent
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Causeway Films, Entertainment One, Smoking Gun Productions
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: Australian English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 28, 2014, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 2024
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $933.1K
Runtime: 1h 33m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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