Gian Arre / 11378786

CSBLIFE Reaction Paper

MCAD Film Screenings The Babadook

Before the Benildean film organization was prematurely suspended for its
members inability to cope with school work while being part of the association
activities, one of the most notable programs that the organization is known for
hosting is the CSBLIFE accredited film screening held at the SDA cinema. Ive always
been fascinated with their selection of movies that they include in the screening
line-up. These movies often range from well-known critically acclaimed and
commercially successful films to independent gems and arthouse films of foreign
nations. Unfortunately, in lieu of their current probation, this program was not
available for this terms batch of students taking CSBLIFE or even those remotely
interested with movies and what the film students have to recommend.
Fortunately, in its stead, MCAD has been hosting a batch of films for
screening to the public every Wednesdays and Fridays, and for this month of
October they have chosen to promote classic and contemporary-classic horror films
in celebration of Halloween. For the first two weeks of October they chose to screen
Poltergeist, the classic Steven Spielberg produced horror film about ghosts living
inside a familys television set, and Cabin in the Woods, a meta take on all familiar
horror tropes of cinema displayed through instilling fear and manipulation on a
group of friends who stumble across a cabin in the woods. But what I was looking
forward to seeing was The Babadook, the auspicious debut of Australian filmmaker
Jennifer Kent that has garnered buzz and critical acclaim over the festival circuits in
the past year. I had attempted to watch the film before but plans fell through.
Thankfully, this was an opportunity I was not going to miss a second time.
The Babadook tells the story of a mother and her son living together alone
and making it work in spite of the sons fathers death the day he was born. The
mother is finding it more and more difficult to parent her son who has become
volatile and anti-social. The son would often build weapons made out of household
items supposedly to fend off monsters that may want to inflict harm to his mother.
He also has a tendency to become violent when trying to get his mothers attention.
As per their tradition, his mom would often read him storybooks before he goes to
bed in order to calm him for sleep. This one night the son pulls out a storybook that
the mom isnt quite familiar with entitled: Mr. Babadook. And from that point onward
the Babadook became one of the films that really got underneath my skin and
instilled real horror as opposed to the cheap jump scares that horror nowadays often
employ.
While watching the film, the themes that were apparent made it easy for me
to determine which Benildean core values it was trying to impart and by the end of
the film it was crystal clear that faith and appreciation of individual worth was the
message the film was trying to get across. Audiences who see the Babadook merely

as a conventional monster akin to the boogeyman who terrorizes people for the sole
purpose of terror will be missing out on the central theme of the movie which is
grief. The Babadook is a representation of grief and how it always lingers poisoning
relationships if you allow it to take hold of your judgment and steer your life
forward. The delineation between fantasy and psychological horror was altogether
blurred to personify what grief does to a family physically and emotionally. This is
where faith comes to the picture, wherein towards the end, the mother is able to
triumph over the Babadooks hold of her through faith and an unwillingness for the
monster to tear her relationship with her son. Appreciation of individual worth
becomes a secondary virtue when the mother finally recognizes her limitations and
strengths knowing how she may never replace the fathers role with her son but she
still has the ability to be a good parent to her son.
I loved the build-up of the film the most as the tension lingered in everyones
imagination as opposed to being spoon fed to the audience. The atmosphere lent
the story gravitas and gave the story fuel for its white-knuckle narrative. What I
liked least about the film was its abrupt ending, I understand the filmmakers choice
for this story-wise but the only reason I dislike this was because I was completely in
the grips of horror before it suddenly ended. I adored the sensation rippling across
my entire body too much that I may have wanted more but as long as it served the
purpose I wouldnt say it was wholly necessary.
I would recommend the sound in the MCAD cinema to be louder as several
scenes with dialogue was a little hard to decipher. I reiterate that the underlying
morals were in dealing with grief and how avoiding it does not resolve the issue.
Grief may linger longer than we anticipate but we should never let it overpower us.
This lesson will definitely carry over in my own life come the time that I may have to
face the inevitability of death or harm that may come to people close to me. I will
remain positive and hopeful that if any bad cloud may come it shall always pass and
I will not allow it to change who I am.