The Babadook

The Babadook is a 2014 Australian psychological horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent in her directorial debut, and produced by Kristina Ceyton and Kristian Moliere. The film stars Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear. It is based on Kent's 2005 short film Monster, which follows a single mother who must confront her son's fear of a monster in their home. Kent began developing the screenplay in 2009, intending to explore parenting and fear of madness in the film's story. Financing was secured through Australian government grants and partly through crowdfunding. Filming took place in Adelaide, where Kent drew from experiences as a production assistant on Lars von Trier's Dogville. During filming, the crew worked to ensure six-year old Wiseman was protected from the challenging subject matter of the film. The titular monster and special effects were created with stop motion and handmade practical effects, and the score was composed by Jed Kurzel. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on 17 January, and generated attention in the United States and Europe, grossing $10 million against a $2 million budget. The Babadook was initially not a commercial success in Australia and was given a limited release in art house cinemas, beginning on 22 May 2014. The film received critical acclaim and was one of the best reviewed films of 2014, with critics commending its scares, creature design, story and exploration of grief. It becomes a modern cult film, winning three of its six nominations at the AACTA Awards, including Best Film. It maintained a following in subsequent years, partly due to becoming an internet meme.