Film No. 36 (2014) May 17th. 11:00 AM LUNA Leederville.
Once again the South Australian Film Corporation is involved in an interesting project. This time The Babadook comes to our screen via the The Sundance Film Festival where it was a "hit". So much so, that it has been sold to 40 odd different countries even before opening here in Australia. Jennifer Kent has created a very moody, spooky film and uses many clever, innovative techniques.
I'm not a fan of the horror genre, but I know a sharply cut, well acted, dark film when I see it. Simply told, The Babadook is a children's story about a scary, cloaked monster who lives in a closet. A closet much like the one in Amelia's (Essie Davis) house, in-fact, within the room of Samuel (Noah Wiseman), her young son. Amelia, under stress from the loss of her husband is not coping and this story, one Samuel insists she reads to him, is not helping matters.
The vulnerability of Amelia, intelligently depicted by Essie Davis gives the Babadook the "opening" it is looking for. The final ten minutes does not live up to the previous ninety but that can happen when the standard is set so high.
Noah Wiseman as Samuel is outstanding. His performance will send chills up the spines' of even the most competent of parents. Daniel Henshall (Snowtown) shows his range as the compassionate Robbie, a work mate of Amelia's. Jennifer Kent didn't attend film school because she wanted to tread her own path. The Babadook is a strong start to her feature film career. 8GUMS
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