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The Babadook

  • 2014
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
234K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,764
341
Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.
Play trailer2:25
6 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorMystery

A single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.A single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.A single mother and her child fall into a deep well of paranoia when an eerie children's book titled "Mister Babadook" manifests in their home.

  • Director
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Writer
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Stars
    • Essie Davis
    • Noah Wiseman
    • Daniel Henshall
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    234K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,764
    341
    • Director
      • Jennifer Kent
    • Writer
      • Jennifer Kent
    • Stars
      • Essie Davis
      • Noah Wiseman
      • Daniel Henshall
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 532Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 56 wins & 64 nominations

    Videos6

    Festival Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Watch Festival Trailer
    The Babadook Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Watch The Babadook Official Trailer
    The Babadook: You Can Bring Me The Boy
    Clip 3:20
    Watch The Babadook: You Can Bring Me The Boy
    The Babadook: Amelia Burns The Book
    Clip 2:31
    Watch The Babadook: Amelia Burns The Book
    The Babadook: Reading Mister Babadook
    Clip 2:55
    Watch The Babadook: Reading Mister Babadook
    The Babadook: Crime Scene On TV
    Clip 1:27
    Watch The Babadook: Crime Scene On TV

    Photos138

    Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis in The Babadook (2014)
    Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis, Barbara West, and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman in The Babadook (2014)
    Essie Davis in The Babadook (2014)
    The Babadook (2014)
    Cathy Adamek and Craig Behenna in The Babadook (2014)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Essie Davis
    Essie Davis
    • Amelia Vanek
    Noah Wiseman
    Noah Wiseman
    • Samuel
    Daniel Henshall
    Daniel Henshall
    • Robbie
    Hayley McElhinney
    • Claire
    Barbara West
    Barbara West
    • Mrs. Roach
    Ben Winspear
    Ben Winspear
    • Oskar
    Chloe Hurn
    • Ruby
    Jacquy Phillips
    • Beverly
    • (as Jacqy Phillips)
    Bridget Walters
    • Norma
    Annie Batten
    • Old Woman in Corridor
    Tony Mack
    • Principal
    Carmel Johnson
    Carmel Johnson
    • Teacher
    Tiffany Lyndall-Knight
    Tiffany Lyndall-Knight
    • Supermarket Mum
    • (as Tiffany Lyndall Knight)
    Lucy Hong
    • Supermarket Little Girl
    Sophie Riggs
    • Checkout Chick
    Lotte Crawford
    • Kissing Woman
    Chris Roberts
    • Kissing Man
    Terence Crawford
    Terence Crawford
    • Doctor
    • Director
      • Jennifer Kent
    • Writer
      • Jennifer Kent
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When asked where the idea for The Babadook (2014) came from, director Jennifer Kent said, "I have a friend who's a single mother, whose son was traumatized by this monster figure that he thought he saw everywhere in the house. So I thought, 'What if this thing was real, on some level?' So I made Monster (2005) [a short film] about that idea. But I couldn't leave it alone. I kept coming back to it. And that led to The Babadook." She has also stated that Amelia suffers from the unprocessed trauma of witnessing a horrible death, and that it is up to the audience to interpret whether the Babadook is supernatural or psychological in nature.
    • Goofs
      (at around 18 mins) When calling out "legs 11" during the bingo game she holds a blue ball but a back shot shows her holding a white ball and in the next front shot she has the original blue ball again. As an extra the white ball is not 11 but 69 (which maybe a playful joke with the crew and cast)
    • Quotes

      Amelia: You are nothing. You're nothing! This is my house! You are trespassing in my house! If you touch my son again, I'll fucking kill you!

    • Connections
      Edited from Mortal Kombat (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      Music from 'Skippy'
      Written by Eric Jupp

      © Administered by APRA/AMCOS

    User reviews1K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Much more than a horror film
    While "The Babadook" may display some of the hallmarks of the traditional horror film, there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Far from the typical Hollywood bloodfest so brilliantly satired in "Cabin in the Woods," this film's characters are layered, its plot is mercurial, its actions are metaphorical, and its conclusions are ambiguous. All this is likely to disappoint those filmgoers who need to be spoonfed a formula. But if you're a film lover, Do. Not. Miss. This.

    Director Jennifer Kent understands what most horror filmmakers fail to grasp: that our biggest fear isn't of crazy killers or monsters or ghosts, but of ourselves—what lives inside us, the emotions we have to live with, the illusory veil of self-control.

    The plot revolves around a mum, her troubled son and the book he pulls off the shelf one night. But you already know too much. This is one film where knowing less going into it will really pay dividends. Really, don't even watch the trailer.

    Just know that the storytelling and craft are flawless. Essie Davis delivers one of the most challenging performances put to screen with total commitment and credibility. Kent's storytelling is utterly absorbing and she so delicately treads the line between what's real and what's not that you can never be sure of yourself.

    What you make of "The Babadook" will depend on who you are. You might take it at face value, as a creepy monster flick with all the constant threat and looming dread and shocking moments. You might take it as an attempt to capture the authentic experience of mental illness. You might take it as a symbolic story using a metaphor for grief and loss. The best films make you feel something and allow you the room to make sense of it yourself.

    Personally, I thought about this film for days after seeing it, both because of its ambiguity and because of the themes it explores, namely mental illness and domestic violence. Yes, it's scary. But it's also touching and heartbreaking. While "The Babadook" belongs alongside other great psychological horror films, like "The Innocents" and "The Haunting" (1963), to classify it purely as "horror" really belittles its accomplishment as a film that challenges us to examine and discuss issues we are very uncomfortable tackling in reality.
    helpful•230
    63
    • mikeburdick
    • Aug 29, 2015

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    FAQ2

    • Is this just another monster in the house picture?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 28, 2014 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Australia
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Causeway Films - Festivals & Awards
      • Causeway Films (Australia)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Sách Ma
    • Filming locations
      • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
    • Production companies
      • Screen Australia
      • Causeway Films
      • The South Australian Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $964,413
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,007
      • Nov 30, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $10,484,459
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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