The Babadook tells the terrifying story of a young boy who becomes convinced that an evil spirit lives in his home, despite his mother’s reassurance that he’s safe. But when his behavior becomes erratic and uncontrollable, his mother realizes something isn’t quite right. The Babadook is an unnerving horror film that delves deep into the human psyche and proves that, sometimes, we can be the scariest monsters of all. The Babadook’s frightening ending has become notorious for its ambiguity and excellent use of horror imagery.
What works so effectively about The Babadook is that, while it’s clearly rooted in the horror genre, there aren’t any clear monsters or ghosts like you’d expect in a basic haunted house story. Instead, the narrative is a largely metaphorical one about trauma, fear, and loss, focusing on the people affected by these themes. It’s one of the scariest horror movies about grief that’s ever been made, and its analogical storytelling isn't easy to find elsewhere. Fortunately, there are some horror movies that will appeal to fans of The Babadook...