Screaming Sunday - The Babadook

Movie rating - 80/100
Plot:  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.
The heroes: The mother and her son. Or perhaps just her son?
The antagonists: The mysterious Babadook
Best scene: It's hard to choose just one in the film so consistent but I'd choose the scene where Amelia gets the book back...with certain creepy additions to it.
Oh-oh something's not right line: Don't let him in.
What makes it so great? This film is easily one of the best and smartest horror films of the last few years - it's not quite as entertaining as Orphan or The Conjuring but it's very psychologically complex, brilliantly acted and executed. The film's best element is the script which much like for example Black Swan is showing the events almost completely from subjective perspective leaving a lot of room for theories and interpretations.

There is a shift at one point of the movie where we begin to question everything - is Amelia a loving mother or is she someone who is abusive towards her son? Are these events we are seeing an isolated event or does it happen all the time? Is she insane or is she possessed? What is happening in their house? The film makes it possible to answer all these questions with different answers and not just one is valid. The ending is also open, depending on which interpretation you follow, albeit it could have been made a bit more clear - I see a lot of people who didn't notice that the ending may not exactly be what it seems.

Despite the film's clever ideas the number of horror cliches that are appalling - such as sick dog must die cliche - is quite high, but the film is still very well executed and the acting is terrific, especially by Essie Davis who gives a wonderful and complex performance.
Scare factor: - 4/5 evil pumpkins - the themes explored in this movie are extremely disturbing - what if your husband dies on the way to the hospital where he is taking you because you're in labor? what if you never stop missing him? what if you hate and resent your child? and just easily - what if there is a malevolent force in your house? What is scariest in The Babadook are very unpleasant and creepy ideas that could easily happen in real life, not the monster. It's what happens to people and how they are unable to deal with that what is the true monster here.
Gore factor:- 2/5 bloody Leatherfaces - there is some blood in this movie but nothing too gory. There is one quite gory moment that is over quickly. The film doesn't rely on gore to frighten the audience.
Is there a twist? Depending on what you think happened there is none or there are many. But a certain close up of someone's hand covered in black chalk could count as a twist.
Hint: Don't watch it around dogs or children.
Unsuitable for: Pregnant women and mothers with difficult children.
Repercussions: I'm fairly certain I most definitely do not want kids.