Sam is troubled by an imaginary creature, the titular Babadook, who eventually enters the family’s home. The film tells the story of Amelia Vanek, a stressed-out widow trying to raise her temperamental young son Sam after the death of her husband, Oskar. It eschewed cheap jump scares and machete-wielding serial killers, instead unnerving audiences with a more realistic terror that hit much closer to home. Caligari and The Amityville Horror – was a refreshing entry into the genre. Australian director Jennifer Kent’s debut feature – a psychological horror story that is equal parts The Cabinet of Dr.
When it premiered in 2014, The Babadook already seemed destined to become a quiet cult classic.
