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| The Babadook | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jennifer Kent |
| Screenplay by | Jennifer Kent |
| Based on | Monster by Jennifer Kent |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Radek Ładczuk |
| Edited by | Simon Njoo |
| Music by | Jed Kurzel |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Umbrella Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million[2] |
| Box office | $10.5 million[3] |
The Babadook is a 2014 Australian psychological horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent in her feature directorial debut, based on her 2005 short film Monster. Starring Essie Davis, Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear, the film follows a widowed single mother who with her son must confront a mysterious humanoid monster in their home.
Kent began writing the screenplay in 2009, intending to explore parenting, grief, and the fear of madness. Financing was secured through Australian government grants and partly through crowdfunding. Filming took place in Adelaide, where Kent drew from her experiences as a production assistant on Lars von Trier's Dogville (2003). During filming, the production team worked to ensure six-year-old Wiseman was protected from the film's disturbing subject matter. The titular monster and special effects were created with stop motion animation and practical effects.
The Babadook premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on 17 January 2014 and was given a limited release in Australian cinemas on 22 May 2014, initially failing to become a commercial success in its native country. However, it generated wider attention internationally, grossing $10 million against its $2 million budget. The film was praised for the cast's performances, creature design, premise, and themes. At the 4th AACTA Awards, it won for Best Film, and Kent won for Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay, respectively. In the years since its release, The Babadook has become a cult classic partly due to its popularity as an internet meme, with the titular monster being ironically adopted as a queer icon.
- ^ "The Babadook". British Board of Film Classification. 14 October 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "The Babadook". The Numbers. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "The Babadook (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 24 September 2022.