The Babadook

The Babadook is a film that relies on the fear that stems from our confrontation with the uncanny, rather than act as a standard haunted house film. The films titular character is the vehicle in which the audience and the films characters are exposed to the uncanny. The presence of the Babadook would be enough to create fear amongst its audience but the filmmakers decide to use this character to draw a far more impactful feeling from their audience. In the film the Babadook represents the physical presence of grief in the life of our main protagonist. Amelia, a single mother was forced to raise her child on her own when a car accident claims the life of her husband. Although it is noted that it has been seven years since his passing it is made clear that this is a trauma that Amelia has yet to recover from. While she has tried to portray a facade of stability for years her true feeling finally surface in the form of Mister Babadook. When we are first introduced to the idea of the babadook we are presented with the phrase "the more you deny me the stronger I become." To me this seems like a clear reference to the emotions of Amelia as her refusal to cope with her grief from the death of her husband has led to her inability to recover from the accident. She is only able to free herself from the constant terror of the babadook when she stands up to him as he approaches her and her son. Furthermore, while the babadook is defeated he never leaves as he becomes a permanent resident of Amelia basement. The is a clear representation of the idea that being free from the burden of your grief does not mean that it vanishes from your life. As evidenced by Amelias continued interactions with the babadook in order to bring it food.