The Babadook

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
The Babadook Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Spooky horror film about a mother, a son, and an evil book.

NR 2014 93 minutes
Rate movie

Parents say

age 12+

Based on 15 reviews

Kids say

age 14+

Based on 94 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate movie

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Babadook is a horror film about a creepy children's book with terrible threats that start coming true (the title is an anagram for "a bad book"). Though it's a very well-made movie with strong characters and emotionally resonant situations, it can be very intense and frightening, especially considering that a 6-year-old boy is frequently in peril. There are nightmare sequences, knives, stabbing, and some blood and gore. The boy also makes his own anti-monster weapons. Language is infrequent, but "f--k," "s--t," "bitch" are used. The mother attempts to use a vibrator under her blankets; she moans in pleasure but is interrupted by her son. Some teen horror fans may not be interested, given the focus on a mother and son rather than on teen characters, but this is an excellent addition to the genre for fans.

Community Reviews

Moneydog23
Moneydog23 Adult
January 20, 2020
age 13+
1 person found this helpful.
Lauradook Dook Dook
Lauradook Dook Dook Adult
July 15, 2019
age 12+

Depends on the kid...

WONDERFUL. This was a very well done film and extra scary, (disclaimer: I don't usually watch many horror films). My 12-year-old daughter and I watched it together and even though I had misgivings about watching a film like that with her, the fact that it was so well done overrode some of the doubts I had. I remember that some of the scary movies I watched as a teen (Nightmare on Elm's St type) were pretty crappy films. This is more art house. That said, it was seriously spooky - if you think you've got a kid that might not want to sleep alone after a film like this, I'd pass until they're older. (My kid was okay).
1 person found this helpful.
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Single mother Amelia (Essie Davis) and her 6-year-old son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), have struggled to get by since Samuel's father died in an accident the day he was born. Amelia is exhausted and depressed, and Samuel is prone to destructive behavior and tantrums. Samuel also believes in monsters, and when he discovers a new pop-up children's book on his shelf, The Babadook, and his mom reads it, strange things start to happen. Amelia tries to destroy the book, but it re-appears with new pages, and the things on those pages begin to come true, too. The end of the book depicts something truly horrible, and the book warns that "you can't get rid of the Babadook." How will mother and son survive?

Is It Any Good?

Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent makes her feature debut with this extraordinary horror movie, one that manages to avoid most of the usual ghost cliches. It stays rooted in human fears, desires, and uncomfortable truths. It's a film that acknowledges the terror and panic that can come from parenthood, especially when one parent has to face it alone. Samuel is shown as a resourceful little man (he makes his own monster-fighting weapons), which can make him seem even more off-putting. But then he can suddenly seem like a little boy again, and his transformation is heartbreaking.

Kent's rhythms are pitched almost like little jolts of sleep, nightmares punctuated by moments of regular life. She keeps a kind of light, wry tone, and it's possible to laugh at certain desperate moments, if only because there's no other response. But the movie is also indisputably spooky and won't disappoint die-hard horror fans. It's an impressive benchmark in the genre and a most powerful debut.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Babadook's violence. How intense is it? Does it feel heightened given that it involves a young boy?

  • Is the movie scary? What makes a good scary movie? And why are we drawn to scary movies in the first place? What else is the movie about besides the monster?

  • What's the relationship between the mother and son like? What could improve it?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • The Orphanage Poster Image

    The Orphanage

    Decent old-school ghost story, Spanish-style.

    age 15+
  • Dark Water Poster Image

    Dark Water

    This scary movie is too creepy for little kids.

    age 16+
  • The Ring Poster Image

    The Ring

    Remake of Japanese horror film is terrifying and creepy.

    age 16+

Themes & Topics

Browse titles with similar subject matter.

  • Cartoon picture of a ghost and vampire
    Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
    See all

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate