Somewhere in a place away from big cities and places we could recognize, in a small Australian suburb, a family consisting of two – a mother and her son Samuel - are facing the fact that the already ill kid is getting worse. The widowed and stressed out mother Amelia is more and more troubled by the myriad of Samuel's problems – his wild imagination, untamed nature and feral temperament are also not really coping with the fact that he has no father figure nor friends. Soon enough the issues of the boy take on a much darker edge for everyone.

“The Babadook” is a film that puts character and emotional issues first, but still keeps its horror and haunting swinging at the right edge. It is smart and it has one quality we look for when it comes to fresh, upcoming talents, and that, my friends, is style. It may be the first film for Jennifer Kent, but we are happy to give all our support and definitely look for more of her work. To those who would like to see a stylish and fresh horror film with an interesting sub-context, “The Babadook” is a perfect example of that.

One of the festival cherries!

Maria Reinup
 

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