Overview
A haunting exploration of grief and motherhood, where the darkness of the mind manifests into a terrifying reality.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- eerie
- oppressive
- foreboding
- late night horror viewing
- Halloween movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an atmospheric, emotionally moving psychological horror work that achieves genuine dread without relying on cheap jump scares.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Amelia's unresolved mourning for Oskar becomes inseparable from the Babadook's threatening presence.
The house's dark rooms, bedroom, basement, and nursery contain the film's central threat and emotional conflict.
Amelia's sleeplessness, social isolation, and inability to manage Samuel's fear drive the mounting dread.
The strange Mr. Babadook book appears in the home and repeatedly returns despite Amelia's attempts to destroy it.
Films like The Babadook, and why
Hereditary
psychological horror centered on grief, motherhood, and an oppressive supernatural presence within the home
The Conjuring
domestic supernatural horror using family trauma, unsettling sound design, and emotionally serious monster imagery
The Orphanage
stylized psychological horror where mourning and parental anxiety become terrifying forces
The Night House
intimate supernatural horror focused on bereavement, parent child tension, and creeping domestic dread
Movie Details
- Director
- Jennifer Kent
- Release Date
- 2014-05-22
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (6573)
Cast
- Essie Davis
- Noah Wiseman
- Hayley McElhinney
- Daniel Henshall
- Barbara West
- Ben Winspear
- Cathy Adamek
- Craig Behenna
- Hachi
- Tim Purcell
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, MUBI, Shudder Amazon Channel, MUBI Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Babadook about?
- A grieving Australian mother and her volatile young son confront a storybook monster that turns their already-fractured home into a nightmare.
- What is The Babadook like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Babadook as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Babadook violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Babadook as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Babadook?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an atmospheric, emotionally moving psychological horror work that achieves genuine dread without relying on cheap jump scares.
- Which films are like The Babadook?
- Films with a similar feel include Hereditary, The Conjuring, The Orphanage, and The Night House.
- How long is The Babadook?
- The Babadook runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Babadook?
- In United States, The Babadook streams on Philo, AMC Plus Apple TV channel, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+, YouTube TV, Shudder, Sundance Now, MUBI, Shudder Amazon Channel, MUBI Amazon Channel, Shudder Apple TV channel.
