The Babadook
- Director: Jennifer Kent
- Writer: Jennifer Kent
- Release: May 22, 2014
This Australian psychological horror film was a huge hit at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2014. This led to the country of Australia releasing into theaters. Jennifer Kent is the writer and director of The Babadook, which was based on a short film she made called Monster. In some ways, Kent made a monstrous character that had some similarities to others from horror films in the past. But at the same time, she made something completely unique in other ways. The story follows Amelia Vakan and her 6-year-old son, Samuel. At one point, Samuel starts to display erratic behavior by becoming an insomniac.
He then becomes preoccupied with an imaginary monster, which he is so afraid of that he makes weapons to fight it. He even brings one to school that gets him in trouble. One night, Amelia reads a pop-up book called Mister Babadook. It is about a monster that’s a tall humanoid with a top hat and taloned fingers. He only torments those that are aware of his existence, to which they now are. Amelia believes it to be fake but Samuel does not. Soon after this, both realize the Babadook exists and must outlast his torment. One of the scariest movies in recent times, this film might make you an insomniac too.