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IMDbPro

The Babadook

  • 20142014
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,801
391
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
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Horror
  • Mystery
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.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
219K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,801
391
  • Director
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Writer
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Stars
    • Essie Davis
    • Noah Wiseman
    • Daniel Henshall
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Writer
    • Jennifer Kent
  • Stars
    • Essie Davis
    • Noah Wiseman
    • Daniel Henshall
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1KUser reviews
    • 524Critic reviews
    • 86Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 56 wins & 64 nominations

    Videos2

    Festival Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Festival Trailer
    The Babadook Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    The Babadook Official Trailer

    Photos136

    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 Vanekas Amelia Vanek
    Noah Wiseman
    Noah Wiseman
    • Samuelas Samuel
    Daniel Henshall
    Daniel Henshall
    • Robbieas Robbie
    Hayley McElhinney
    • Claireas Claire
    Barbara West
    Barbara West
    • Mrs. Roachas Mrs. Roach
    Ben Winspear
    Ben Winspear
    • Oskaras Oskar
    Chloe Hurn
    • Rubyas Ruby
    Jacquy Phillips
    • Beverlyas Beverly
    • (as Jacqy Phillips)
    Bridget Walters
    • Normaas Norma
    Annie Batten
    • Old Woman in Corridoras Old Woman in Corridor
    Tony Mack
    • Principalas Principal
    Carmel Johnson
    Carmel Johnson
    • Teacheras Teacher
    Tiffany Lyndall-Knight
    Tiffany Lyndall-Knight
    • Supermarket Mumas Supermarket Mum
    • (as Tiffany Lyndall Knight)
    Lucy Hong
    • Supermarket Little Girlas Supermarket Little Girl
    Sophie Riggs
    • Checkout Chickas Checkout Chick
    Lotte Crawford
    • Kissing Womanas Kissing Woman
    Chris Roberts
    • Kissing Manas Kissing Man
    Terence Crawford
    Terence Crawford
    • Doctoras Doctor
    • Director
      • Jennifer Kent
    • Writer
      • Jennifer Kent
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Jennifer Kent holds the rights to the film. When asked if there would be a sequel, she said, "I will never allow any sequel to be made, because it's not that kind of film. I don't care how much I'm offered, it's just not going to happen."
    • 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
    Top review
    7/10
    Better than most, but not quite up there with the best.
    It's a rare thing when I give anything labeled horror more than a passing glance. The genre has become so completely oversaturated by teen slasher flicks, soulless gorefests and inferior remakes. Having said that I'd heard enough to convince me this may be one of the rare exceptions, unsurprisingly this is a low-key non-Hollywood affair.

    Of course there have been enough horrors over the years for a pretty well defined list of tropes to be a known part of the movie-going consciousness. While The Babadook does deviate from the standard affair we all know and are mostly bored of, it does bring in a few of the more classic tropes, the problem child, the distraught mother and thankfully the illusive villain. Throw in a fair dose of questionable insanity and you have a recipe for a decent classic style horror.

    In this respect it doesn't disappoint, of course it can't hold up to Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist or The Shining but it is certainly familiar of those and in no bad way. Paying tasteful homage to inspirations is acceptable if the movie can stand up on its own weight and in this it succeeds.

    The actual premise itself seems fairly original, although not groundbreaking, the shocks come from the actions of the characters rather than any clichéd jump-scare tactics. As others have mentioned, the underlying metaphor is not too subtle but surely that's part of what adds to the tension.

    There was some really good editing throughout, keeping the feel of a fast paced movie while not rushing the story. The kid actor in it does an excellent job of appearing genuinely disturbed but simultaneously good natured.

    The Babadook may not be a groundbreaker, I don't expect it to redefine the genre and I doubt it will appeal to the younger horror demographic, but if like me you yearn for the spirit of the classics to resurface once in a while, this is a pretty good attempt.

    And provided the promise of no sequels is kept, this is one that will hold up well for some time.
    helpful•63
    39
    • shaunmutantdog
    • Jan 23, 2016

    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
      • $10,507,563
    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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