Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spooky horror film about a mother, a son, and an evil book.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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The Babadook
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Parents say this film is a mixed bag, with many finding it a well-crafted exploration of grief and the psychological horror of motherhood, while others argue it lacks genuine scares and features inappropriate content for younger viewers. Generally, it's praised for its artistic approach and strong performances, but its intense themes and dark atmosphere may not resonate with all audiences, particularly children.
- psychological horror
- strong performances
- dark themes
- mixed reactions
- not for kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 111 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a mix of terrifying psychological horror and confusing narratives. While some viewers found it incredibly scary with impactful themes of grief and mental health, others thought it was far from terrifying, citing awkward editing and nonsensical plot points, especially regarding the portrayal of the mother-son relationship.
- psychological horror
- mixed reviews
- impressive themes
- disturbing content
- not for young kids
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE BABADOOK, 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 reappears with new pages, and the things on those pages start 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 made her feature debut with this extraordinary horror movie, one that manages to avoid most of the usual ghost cliches. The Babadook 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 kid (he makes his own monster-fighting weapons). But then he can suddenly seem like a selfish little boy again, and his unstable condition is heartbreaking.
Kent's rhythms are pitched 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 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
- In theaters : November 28, 2014
- On DVD or streaming : April 14, 2015
- Cast : Essie Davis , Noah Wiseman , Daniel Henshall
- Director : Jennifer Kent
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studios : IFC Films , Sundance Selects
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 93 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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