Hello people of the Internet! In my opinion a good film is one that can make me laugh or cry while a brilliant film is one that makes me have a revelation like the one in the physiological horror movie The Babadook.
Created by Australian director, Jennifer Kent, the movie tells the storey of Amelia Vannick who after reading a strange pop up book to her son finds herself under attack by a boogey-man-like entity called the Babadook. What struck me wasn't the scares or acting-which were both done very well-but the lesson that the film had: Sometimes the best way to resolve a problem is to acknowledge that it exist. Unlike other monsters like Freddie or the Poltergeist ghost the Babadook draws its strength not from its victims fear or attention, but from how hard they try to ignore that it exist.
About halfway through the film I realized that it was actually a symbolic portrayal of how illness like depression are treated-or rather untreated-by society. Speaking from personal experience I can tell you that depression is just like this movie minus the shadow demon: Even if you are not the one afflicted with it the tension just keeps building and building until it gets too massive, or too dangerous, for you to ignore. While the whole standing up to the monster is a common trope in scary movies this one continues with the symbolism by having the creature stay with Amelia and her son after the climax as well as have them interact with it. This is not a happy relationship-Amelia and Sam are still very much afraid-but it is a necessary one in order to keep the Babadook from growing too strong again, just like with depression.
It is an illness that stays with a person the rest of their lives, and although it can be scary at times it will not keep you from living your life as long as you keep an eye on it. That's all I have for now so until my next post I hope that you Live well, Laugh often, and Love much.
