However, some horror movies, such as The Cabin in the Woods, the Evil Dead remake, The Conjuring, You're Next, and this year's Tusk, have been able to break most horror conventions and be what horror movies should be: entertaining and genuinely thrilling.
In addition to big releases, independent horror films are also becoming increasingly enjoyable to watch, as they buck studio conventions and make the visions that were intended to be seen.
The Babadook is a fine example of this.
Released in Australia this past year, The Babadook focuses on widowed mother Amelia (Essie Davis), who is raising her son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) all on her own. Samuel is a bit of a strange child: he barely sleeps through the night and believes that an imaginary monster is in his home, even going so far as creating weapons to combat it. One night, Amelia finds a strange pop-up book entitled "Mister Babadook," which she decides to read to Samuel. Soon after, strange things begin happening around the house and to Amelia, with Samuel insisting that the Babadook is behind it. Now, Amelia must discover what really is going on before it's too late.
This movie popped up on my radar after hearing countless reviews heaping critical acclaim on the film, with some calling it the scariest and one of the best horror movies in years. Seeing all this critical praise led me to become very interested to see what everyone was talking about.
After finally being able to have a chance to watch the film, I can now see what everyone is talking about: this is one of the most effective, chilling, and genuinely entertaining horror movies I've seen in years.
This is definitely in part to the two main actors, Essie Davis and Noah Wiseman. While there are numerous supporting actors around them who do fine in their roles as well, in actuality, they do not show up as much in the course of the film.
Most of the action is on these two throughout the film. Both of them are spectacular, particularly Davis. Her character of Amelia is such a delicate and fragile person, with losing her husband and taking care of her unusual child. Davis plays this to such great effect throughout the course of the film.
In addition, she has a great relationship on screen with Wiseman. You genuinely feel for these two as they deal with the terror that the Babadook has caused. The relationship feels genuine, and by the end, we feel as if we have seen these characters go through an emotional journey together before coming to terms with each other's faults.
Another thing this film has going for it is that it relies on genuine terror, NOT cheap horror scares. The film has this sense of dread and foreboding the entire time, to the point where I was completely terrified as to when the Babadook would start to show up.
A lot of credit for that goes to first time writer and director Jennifer Kent. She takes a concept that has been done before (spirit starts to haunt wife and child), but she infuses it with a real sense of thrills and horror.
Once the Babadook starts to play heavily into Amelia's subconscious, I felt terrified and on the edge of my seat for what was about to happen next. It's rare to find a horror movie that does that anymore.
Overall, The Babadook is one of the best horror movies I've seen in a very long time, which is such a refreshing statement to say. If you happen to have a VOD service or it's playing in your nearest theater, I would highly recommend it.
Grade: A
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