The Scariest Horror Movie Of The Last Decade
Horror fans have been given some solid films to devour over the last 10 years. Whether it’s the latest in The Conjuring cinematic universe or a creepy independent endeavor like Black Phone, movie-goers have had so many different options that have proven to check all the boxes. But the low-budget Australian film The Babadook has proven itself to be one from the last decade that has continued to stand the test of time as a movie that still terrifies.
A Single Mom Trying To Keep It Together
The Babadook is the story of the widowed Amelia Vanek and her six-year-old son Samuel, who are both struggling with the pain and loneliness that stemmed from the death of Samuel’s father, Oskar. Amelia mourns the loss of her partner after he perished in a car crash while she was in labor, while Samuel is struggling to fill the void that his mother’s distance and near-constant exhaustion have created within him emotionally.
Mister Babadook
Samuel acts out constantly and is a source of frustration for Amelia. She notices that he is becoming obsessed with what she believes to be an imaginary monster and is growing more concerned with his mental health when he begins to build weapons to fight off this unseen creature. In the midst of this, Samuel has Amelia read him a pop-up book called “Mister Babadook,” shocking her with its dark imagery and sinister tones.
From Page To Nightmare
The Babadook sees Amelia reach her breaking point when Samuel begins to blame odd occurrences on the book’s creepy character. She opts to destroy the book, only to have the tattered pieces reappear on her doorstep days later after someone (or something) taped it back together. She opens it and sees that the words and illustrations in it have been altered to show her killing the family dog, her son, and herself.
The movie takes on a new form as Amelia begins to be haunted and then attacked by the Babadook. The viewer is taken on a chilling ride as the monster from the book plays on the widow’s most hurtful memories and deepest desires in an attempt to destroy her and the tattered remains of her family.
Expanded On A Hit Short Film
The film plays out like a Guillermo del Toro production that’s mashed with elements of psychological horror and gothic noir. Well-timed jump scares are placed strategically among the movie’s intensely creepy imagery and give viewers one of the scariest movies in recent years.
The Babadook served as the directorial debut for Jennifer Kent, who used her 2005 short film Monster as the source material for her horror masterpiece. The short film was well received by critics and was nominated for and received several festival awards—however, the feature film she gave audiences generated monumental support and accolades from industry insiders worldwide.
Streaming For Free
REVIEW SCORE
The Babadook garnered nominations for multiple Saturn Awards and Critics Choice Awards and took home four big wins at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and a Best First Feature honor from the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. Essie Davis’ efforts in the leading role was one of the most recognized endeavors in the horror genre that year and remains a fan favorite a decade later.
Online review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives The Babadook a phenomenal 98 percent approval rating across 247 reviews and ranks the movie as the 13th best horror film ever produced.
You can stream The Babadook for free with Pluto TV.
