Filmmaker reacts to The Babadook (2014) for the FIRST TIME!
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- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- Hope you enjoy my filmmaker reaction to The Babadook. :D
Full length reactions & Patreon only polls: / jamesvscinema
Original Movie: The Babadook (2014)
Ending Song: / charleycoin
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CHILLS. DEPRESSION. AND MORE...great!
Breaking Bad EP 7 & S2 EP 1 & Edge Runners on the patreon this week! Click here for early access: www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema
Have a great day everyone!
I challenge you to watch The Nightingale by the same director. Brace yourself if you accept the challenge
This so exactly why I recommended this film to you, I knew you’d get what this film was saying immediately.
The entire film deals with her grief over her husband dying at the exact time as she’s giving birth, leading to her resentment to Samuel because as she’s says at the end: “Samuel is just like his dad, always says what’s on his mind”. That quality is what made her so unable to truly accept Samuel, since she never truly confronted her feelings over the death of her husband. That depression, grief, resentment all manifest itself through “The Babadook”, which never really is defeated, it retreats to the “basement”, like when we bottle up our negative feelings on the loss of someone we love, but we learn to deal with it over time, knowing it never goes away.
I love this film because I lost my dad when I was 10. Now at the age of 35, I still feel so much pain that he’s not here but with time, I’ve learned to deal with the pain. This is one of my top 5 favorite movies of all time
Great recommendation very few reactions to this incredible film.
You are such an empathetic viewer. That's what makes you one of the best reactors, in addition to your filmmaking expertise. The emotional complexity is never lost on you. Thanks for doing this one!
Hey Melanie, I appreciate the comment! Thanks for the love!
I think this one is underrated! It’s a tough movie to watch. It deals with things no one really wants to talk about.
The babadook is SO underrated one of the only recent horror/thriller movies that actually scared me
I can see why! Surprised seeing some of the public reviews. Seemed like people didn’t dig it. (Not that I care)
@@JamesVSCinema Anecdotally horror just seems like one of the biggest hit or miss genres with reviews. I consider horror to be my favorite genre and a lot of the horror movies I think are pretty good have very average or poor reviews. The Strangers has a 48% on RT for example even though imo it's one of the better home invasion scenario films.
I could be wrong but my theory is that a lot of people think horror is a waste of time if they don't get scared.
yessir, the scene with the lady being the babadook on the window is still haunting my dreams
@Duke XIX that scene gives me chills every time I see it. It’s so unsettling.
It isn't even remotely underrated.
I just realized something. As you were saying she will never actually get rid of it the lightbulb turned on and i realized that The Babadook is grief. She ignored her grief for so long that it festered and just completely took her over. Now that she has confronted that grief, it is under control and hiding in the basement, but it'll always be there. That makes me love this movie so much more than i already did! Also as someone who used to be a single dad, this movie hits pretty damn hard. I am loving these videos man.
*edit - If you like Cosmic Horror, you should check out The Empty Man and/or The Void
I second "The Empty Man". Haven't seen "The Void", thanks for the tip!
Hell yea. The Void is a Canadian indie classic. Unapologetically gory. Way into Cthulu territory. So weird.
the Void had so much potential
The Void! Very 80's horror style. Pretty good creepy factor.
Hit the nail on the head. From the pages themselves “The more you deny it, the stronger it gets.”
This was one of the first horror movies I ever watched and liked. Also, Jennifer Kents second movie, The Nightingale is a truly traumatic but incredible movie
I will always say the Nightingale is the most traumatic movie but necessary watch.
What's even more horrific about that movie is such things in it truly did happen. It's unapologetic with honest brutality, something I usually prefer to see as Indigenous American (Diné) than the sanitzed depiction such atrocities. This movie here definitely got my attention on how Kent depicts trauma.
Yep, great movie, im a credited extra in it.
The Nightingale is extraordinary. I’m so glad more people are talking about it.
Thanks for the tip
I remember that this film was a Kickstarter campaign almost a decade ago and the top donators would get a official copy of the storybook with extra pages and personally signed by the director. I went for it and this film went on to become a massive landmark in horror cinema and the book is one of my treasured possessions. God this film is incredible. Also THE HEREDITARY COMPARISONS:
A death of a loved one that occurred prior to the film's opening scene is a catalyst for what the mother goes through
Both movies center around car accidents that decapitate a loved one of the mother and she directs her misery and hatred at the son, who was also present at the time of the accident
Mom is an artist who has been struggling with their work lately
Mom is plagued by sleepless nights
Curly haired boy cries a lot and sees shit in his room at night
Main character has an offspring that is obsessed with making weird knick-knacks
The entity plaguing the characters has been after the son all along. It has been using the mom's worst aspects of their relationship with their son as it's main method of attack - forcing both characters to confront that deep down, they mom never wanted the son to be born, and she has a subconscious desire to kill both her son and herself. Both moms express this in a sleepwalking episode.
Mom starts to climb the fuckin' walls and float once the entity gets a hold of her
Evil detecting dog that gets killed
Entities makes both moms see a horrible visage of her husband dying in order to break her down farther, right after they thought they were about to be victorious
"I AM YOUR MOTHER!"
Yeah this is a great horror movie. I think this movie is mostly about grief and depression. The babadook represents the depression that the mother and her son are enduring. At the end when she sees the Babadook in the basement and feeds it and then she goes back up and spends time with her son, it shows that although depression is still a bad thing, you can still learn to live with it and conquer it.
I love how the film makes the viewer experience the infanticidal impulses the mother is feeling. It's very much intentional that the kid character pushes all your buttons as you watch. It's a shame people can't decouple that from their opinions of the child actor. I mean the kid blew it out of the water, performance-wise. But I don't often see much love for him in user reviews. Which is a shame; he's a child of the internet age and will no doubt be reading all about how annoying he is as he grows up. His IMDb page is pretty sparse, I hope it's because he was busy with his education and not because he was, for all intents and purposes, bullied into leaving the profession entirely.
The Nightingale (2018) by the same writer/director is definitely a must-watch. Go in with as little prior knowledge as possible.
Crikey moite! Hello from Australia! This movie basically kicked off an indie-boom in Australia and a friend of mine in AFTRS (big Australian Film School) told me they got a metric butt-load of applications after this movie came out. It was also great to see Essie Davis get some attention (who was mainly known for more low-key TV drama, but was always great)
I watched this in 2014 by myself in a cinema, and the sound design was so good, you couldn't tell if those weird electronic noises were coming from the screen or from inside the cinema itself. It scared the life out of me. I came home that night to a pitch black house and I literally couldn't move. One of my favorite horror films and experiences with a horror film ever. THANK YOU for understanding it instantly. I have so many friends who feel so indifferent towards it for some reason, and you just got it.
I honestly think one of the reasons it's so effective is because to a degree, it's using kid logic for the monster. I grew up in very old houses that made all sorts of weird noises (especially on days when it was warm during the day and then cold at night), and in some neighborhoods where it wasn't unusual to hear people shouting or having arguments through the night too. (Not to mention growing up with pets - the scene with the dog coming into the bedroom was unsettling for me because yeah, I've had that moment of '...is that the dog, or...?' and it was always the dog, but y'know. It could've been something else.) And we've all been jumpscared by clothes hanging up in a weird shape before - I used to think I was weird for needing to keep my wardrobe shut at night and not liking to have stuff hanging on the wall or having mirrors in my room that reflect the bed, until I found out how many other adults (and how many kids) equally find that too scary.
It's drawing on real sources of fear, especially for kids... and then making an adult experience it, especially with that forced-perspective shot towards the end. (I wouldn't be surprised if the writer had seen that professional artist who illustrates kids' fears (in a really photorealistic style too) or had seen that other horror anthology movie where the writer based the stories on things his very young daughter said were scary.)
Solid movie. The sound design alone for the creature is sick, but the creepy ass book is 👨🍳💋
Sound design is otherworldly!
The Babadook is grief. And you don't get rid of grief; you learn to live with it.
Fun fact: Babadook is an anagram of 'a bad book'.
I feel like the most impactful line in the book is "The more you DENY, the STRONGER I get." It perfectly encapsulates the grieving process, and how she manages to "manage" the Babadook at the end of the film.
Excellent film, Essie Davis gives a fantastic performance. A real stand out horror of the last decade. Under the Shadow (2016) being another great one.
May I say your reaction was spot on. The Babadook is one of only a handful of movies that has actually scared me 😱👍🏽
One of the best horror movies ever made imo and one of the best cautionary tales about how unacknowledged grief and despair can consume you and turn you into a monster in real life.
This is one of my favorite horror films. When I first watched it, I was baffled by the ending and thought what the hell did I just watch.
Once I learned that the Babadook represents grief, I watched it again with that in mind, and had a newfound appreciation for this movie 🙂
This is a movie I saw once, loved it, thought it was absolutely brilliant, and don't plan on ever seeing again. The scene where the kid gently caresses his mom's face just broke me.
The next film the director of this film did The Nightingale is definitely worth reacting it. Very tough watch, but one of the best
I’ll have to check it! Cool name!
Hell of a directorial debut.
One of my favorite parts of this film is when she goes to the police station to report the book, she has charcoal on her hands which shows that she was the one that was drawing it.
The greatest horror movie since the shining. Original idea, totally new approach. Even the color saturation, all of it puts you into the movie, like you were in it with them. Even the horror scenes force you to watch, and can't look away. Highly underrated movie that be placed at the top with all the legendary classics.
Note: as a Halloween prank I recreated the book irl and left it in my mother in law's house. She hasn't seen the movie, and hasn't found the book yet. Updates coming 😅
This is my favourite horror movie with The Witch, I love Jennifer Kent, she also made The Nightingale and she is going to make an episode in The Cabinet of Curiosities by Del Toro
I saw this for the first time while on shrooms. The scene where he is hovering towards her in the dark absolutely destroyed any kind of good trip I was having and proceeded to have a very dark trip where every time I looked into dark areas in the house I would see a similar shape to the Babadook and freak the fuck out once again. Even now when I watch that scene now it fills me dread.
My friend, this sounds like a very bad way to do shrooms.
You mix horror movies and psychedelics you get what you get. Then again I did play Dead Space one time while I was on acid but that was honestly pretty cool.
This is the best time of year for this channel; I used to be averse to horror, but I agreed to a podcast with an expert a few years back and he's introduced me to so much of the genre I never would have known about, and I've come to appreciate the best of horror as a stunning and cruelly overlooked body of work that enriches filmmaking immensely. It's been so fun seeing your trained eye appreciating it as well.
Happy to hear this my friend. Appreciation grows with knowledge!
“That wasn’t even a jumpscare, that was just a scare!”
LOL I love that.
My guy, James! This film is one of my absolute favourites - for a first time director, they absolutely nail it. Keep up the great work - much love, brother 🧡
Jennifer Kent is all round amazing. For starters, the lead actress Essie Davis (who is incredible) knows Jennifer Kent because Kent was in the year above her at drama school (Cate Blanchett was in Essie Davis's year too). Probably the hardest drama school to get into in Australia. According to Essie Davis, Jennifer Kent was an incredible actress who she was in awe of.
Kent's acting career never took off (difficulty of being Australian- so many more barriers) so she wrote to a director she respected and they let her be a runner. That was like her film school.
She made a short film. Then wrote this script, managed to scrape together a pretty small budget through grants and crowdfunding (another challenge of the Australian industry), got her friend Essie Davis on board, and directed it as a first time director. And this is what came of it. Low budget. Little experience. No one holding her hand. And she did this amazing film and all her stuff since has been great too.
Basically, she was an amazing actress, who then became an instant critical darling as a scriptwriter and director from her first attempt. She's crazy talented.
Dude...this is one of the best horror/grief films ever! SO well done. I was so hyped when this came out in theaters and I was NOT disappointed. It's one of those films that just causes all kinds of cool discussions afterwards. The short film that this was inspired from is great as well.
when i first saw this movie, it really left me with an uneasy feeling. to think that the degree of horror we experience, we actually have the power to create through how we handle our grief, and how much grief we’ve had the misfortune of receiving. it is masterful.
This movie made me afraid to go downstairs to check on the dogs at night. That scene where she dreams of the news broadcast where the mother killed the kid, and then it zooms in on her in the window, smiling that super evil smile…yeah, that’s seared into my brain forever.
That smile is seriously one of the scariest things I've ever seen. The first time I watched it I actually teared up from fear at that part. It is just so extremely haunting and disturbing
You are a great and serious student of film so you have to see Polanski's Rosemary's Baby. Its a masterpiece of direction.
Roger, appreciate the recommendation!
Love Rosemary's baby, Polanski tho...
Yes. Great movie!
Essie Davis was fantastic in this excellent psychological horror film! I appreciate that it literally focused on psychology. I really should check out more Australian films, they tend to be very well acted.
Kent also did The Nightingale, also set in Australia, and it's apparently amazing but unrelenting in its historical accurancy. I've been trying to psyche myself up to watch it! Also on Netflix for the Cabinet of Curiosities anthology, Kent did another 60 minute psychological horror in a similar vein with Essie Davis in the lead role. It's got the same kind of atmosphere of the Babadook so if you like this you'll love that!
And Essie Davis is brilliant and incredibly versatile. I have never seen her give a bad performance. She was in Cate Blanchett's year at drama school and is every bit as good as her (I was taught by their teacher and he told us that too). It's insane to contrast this role with her most famous and beloved TV role, Miss Fisher. They're such polar opposite characters and she's brilliant in both. She also met Jennifer Kent at drama school, as she was an actor in the year above. So Kent is not only an amazing scriptwriter and director, but also apparently an amazing actress.
@@TheTardisDreamer Thanks for your informative post! 👍 I've considered watching "The Nightingale" for some time now, but for some reason I've kept postponing it. I'll check out "Cabinet of Curiosities", the title alone makes me.. well, curious! 😀
23:44 THANK YOU!! When this first came out, the overwhelming majority of people, at least that I noticed, completely missed the point of what the Babadook represents. So glad that you weren't in that group of people 💙
Anytime!! Good company here 🤘🏽
I've never understood why you should spend money to watch other people watch a movie.... But hey, your first time really got me thinking. YOU are without a doubt the best reactor in terms of professionalism and value. I really hope that you continue to do this for a long time to come.
Ah this means a lot, seriously! The goal is always to provide value with these..along with entertainment!
The magic trick with the dove is an old classic - the metal serving dish has two tray bases, one of them stays held in the lid, then when you put the lid down and press the handle down it pops out the hidden tray which held the dove. 🐦
The shot of her smiling in the window during the news report always gives me chills
And omg...the sound design. SO amazing. There are some really hard scenes to watch in this film...but it's so effective at making you feel those chills that unnerve you. ALSO...did you notice that when the mom was banging on the door...and saying let me in...she was basically turning into the Babadook. The thump thump thump at the beginning of that scene when she first starts banging on the door.
Incredible reaction man. Love the feeling like im sitting across from u talking about these films/shows we watch together. You saying that this thing is hers made me think of a line from a warhammer 40k book; "I am wrathful! I am NOT, wrath. I wield my wrath! IT does not wield me!"
I had a very, very severe post partum depression when my daughter was born, 17 years ago. The babadook shook me to my core. I had to make pauses, and I'm a horror movie aficcionada who's rarely scared. This movie felt like me. I wish this kind of suffering and darkness on no one. No, you never can put this kind of profound, layered pain away. You can only hope to be able to manage, forgive yourself and make something better out of it. Great reaction, great insight. Thank you!
First heard of this movie thanks to the Stuckmann!
He talked about it in his Problems With Horror Movies video, saying how this film is so much more interesting than people were giving it credit for, how people who are genre fans and horror aficionados were praising it for among other things the lack of jumpscares and the excellent central performance of Davis, and that audience expectation is ruining genuinely fantastic films.
Chris referenced an IMDB review that in a few words said they were bored by the film. The film was to his credit, marketed as a bit of a scary creature film, when in reality, it’s as deep and complex as you see, and yet all that IMDB user wanted to see was a cool monster.
This movie is such a fever dream
Been hooked since the first time I seen it Im glad you took a peek
This is without a doubt the best reaction to this movie.❤❤❤
But to be fair: That’s no surprise 😂
Thanks for reminding me of this movie 😂😑. Besides that old 50s monster sound, this movie was definitely scary
Sounded like an imp from doom to me, but considering how many stock samples are in that game, it’s no surprise that the effect is older.
@@cappinjocj9316 yea that sample is crazy old 😂
This movie made me cry more than once. My fiancé died back in 2015 and it SUCKS. I also felt for her son a lot in that scene where he came and tried to tell her he was hungry. Yo, that scene destroyed me because I know how he felt as well.
There's a short film version of this movie from the same director called "Monster". Loved them both
Hey! Just earned a sub. I loved the way you were able to really quickly pull up the complexity of the mom and her son. Also, the way you really showed empathy and really showing appreciation for shots and sounds and how they played into the overall message of the movie. Awesome video.
Thanks for subbing!
A great film from my home town. They even did some of the outside filming in my suburb.
That's pretty cool
This is my favorite horror movie from this century. Such an amazing film!
Recently discovered your channel and I love what you have to say and what your bringing my attention to in terms of filming choices. This was such a stand alone horror that I can’t compare to any other grief film it’s so great
Im amazed at how not one reaction channel on YT has reacted to "Cold Mountain".. beatiful movie with several oscar nominations
one of my favorite horror movie ever; I think this was the first time I realized horror is often metaphor not just scary for the sake of it
So glad you got round to watching this. I saw it in the cinema and I definitely needed a hug afterwards. Such a brilliant representation of grief and anger.
For Cosmic Horror man... you need to watch the pair The Endless and Resolution. In that order.
Babadook does an incredibly good job of conveying that the house is old. And old things always bring a feeling to people. The drab colors are all desaturated versions of much brighter colors. There's wear at the edges and fraying. Just like her. She's worn at the edges and fraying, you can see it in her pale, sometimes sickly looking skin. The grief is eating her from the inside out, and the house is reflecting that. The basement is like going down into her own mind. There's a lot of very well done but simple symbolism.
Grief manifest is such a great idea for a horror. I love the scene where she has to feed the Babadook. Within the metaphor she has to allow herself to feel her grief and pain because ignoring it is what allowed it to grow and become something that harms her child and take over her life
The Babadook is now a gay icon for the LGBTQIA community
LMFAO what is the lore with this cause I’ve seen this before 😭
@Lala Emm It turned into a joke at first but became an instant hit as an image on Twitter wearing a rainbow shirt and pink boa.
@Lala Emm Netflix put it under LGBT films by accident and it just became a meme
@@danwilliams2551 BRUH lmao thats pretty funny 😂
She is an icon. Love you baba
LMFAO
Your reaction to the Mother reading her Son Mister Babadook needs to be everywhere. Movie is scary as hell and I love this reaction
I'm a real sucker for the trope of "physical manifestations of trauma".
This was a film that really lingered with me, but now every time I think of it, my thoughts are overridden by the scene in the What We Do in the Shadows TV show, where the Babadook introduces himself in a heavy Italian-American accent says he's actually a _"Baba-boook! You know, badda bing, baba-boook!"_
I don't watch a lot of horror movies, so this was easily the scariest one I'd seen at the time (maybe ever).
Edit: I was reminded while watching your reaction just how dreamlike the whole movie feels. The fact that the scares are slow and looming make it feel like one of those nightmares where you feel hopeless to escape from whatever the dark threat is. It's a visceral movie.
You’re going to love Barry it’s such an under appreciated show
I remember watching this is high school and loving it
They hand made preorders for that pop up book. It took over a year to receive my copy.
Great film, up there with The Ring for creepiness.
Absolutely..the chills here were intense!
Exactly!
I cannot wait, Jennifer and Essie are teaming up on one of the episodes for Del Toro’s anthology on Netflix releasing next week. This is legit my favorite horror film, because it is genuinely u settling and has so many layers to pull back on every rewatch
"I need to look up some videos on this film" freaking SAME when I first watched it LMAO, I was like "oh my god the amount of analisys/essay videos I'm going to watch about this"
Love this film. One proud owner of the pop up book.
The scenes of The Babadook on the television gives me big analog horror vibes
Horror movies have never scared me . Been watching them for decades . This one is my favorite . I imagine the mother and the son was battling a monster , which was each other .
This was one of the few movies that both terrified and empowered me. One or the other is fairly easy, but both helped make this unique and rewarding.
Love your background it’s an awesome touch, also absolutely loved this film really helped me find and solidify my love for horror.
This is the first movie in a while that gave me chills multiple times.
Great commentary. First time I saw this I watched it on my computer and I just leaned back in my chair for like an hour afterwards just thinking. Keep it up man, such interesting videos.
Hey Marcus, major thanks brotha!
loved the reaction bro!!!
Uuuuuuuugh this is a masterpiece. GREAT reaction and commentary
Hey thanks Addison! Dig your profile by the way.
@James VS Cinema Thank you! Shaak Ti is my favorite Star Wars character
I was utterly terrified by the kid, especially in the blurred shot of him just acting up in the back seat of the car early in the film.
This like many other so-called 'elavated horror' you can remove the supernatural element and will be just as terrifying as there is nothing disturbing than being scared of your own son or mother.
Of course I had to do a drag show based on this.
Ay, my ass would've been whooped too man. Babadook would've seen that and skated through the woods to someone else's house.
ABSOLUTELY. You get it.
@@JamesVSCinema Yes Sir, I got it. My Mom was just doin what was right by us, while Dad was at work.
Horror flick was Mom sayin' "wait until your Dad gets home and I tell him".
Love your reactions man. You've opened up sections of my mind as far as interpreting films from a few perspectives other than viewer. Thank you for that.
Peace and blessings to you and your's.
Dude, this movie creep me the F out big time! I watched it late at night alone, that just made it worse Lol! Great physiological horror masterpiece in my opinion. If it legit gave me chills, made me uncomfortable and played with my mind (like thinking I saw something move in a dark corner or a shadow)...The film making was outstanding and everyone did a spectacular job making this movie! Highly underrated movie.
the new set up is coming together nicely and the content, yeah great stuff yet again :) as always, stay awesome and stay geniune.. much love
I loved this movie when I first saw it a few years ago.
I have been waiting for this reaction! Love this movie and love ur vids
I think this film really tried it's best to keep the babadook 'unseen'. The movie gave no basis of what it is, how it showed up etc... All we saw from the films point of view is a book, and the Babadook presenting itself. I think it's more of a parasite/entity rather than some demonic figure like the conjuring films or the exorcist. This really does dive into fear, paranoia, guilt, depression and loneliness. This movie explores so much and and the context of the overall picture is fixed on a mother who finally let's go of her past trauma and defeats the evil that has entered her home and overcoming her fears.
They were making and selling the pop-up book from this movie for a hot minute -- I really wanted one of those!
One of the best directorial debuts ever. Changed the horror game. The Nightingale is also a game changer, however traumatic and traumatising it is
Love the new setup my man. Keep up the great content!
I honestly love this film.
A Horror movie with a good life lesson.
I like the purple with the tree silhouettes it makes a nice background
please react to this director's second film "Nightingale" its amazingly underrated and deeply heartbreaking
the babadook walked so hereditary can run and the the nightingale can fly
You are the first person I’ve seen react to this. I thought it was a really good movie.
Hey James! Any chance you'll consider to watch the first Insidious for Halloween?
(ps: let me know if I've missed it and you already watched this :) )
It is on the Patreon poll! Maybe I’ll be able to get to it!
@@JamesVSCinema awesome! thanks for the answer! ;) Curious to see what's next
I remember being so irritated by this kid and slowly realizing, oh crap, I’m in her shoes! It’s so well done.
I was lucky enough to sign up to get a copy of the pop-up book from the movie. I think it took like 2 years to arrive but it’s so gorgeous it was worth the wait.
The Babadook is the physical embodiment of past trauma. You can run from it, push it away, fight it and even confront it face to face. But in the end, you can't get rid of the babadook.... you just learn to live with it.
Just watched this a few days ago, for the first time. I'm not one for horror films, but this was excellent.
Baba dook dook dook
dooky
Great commentary James!
Thank you!! 🤘🏽♥️
Baba dook is actually good. He helped her learn a good lesson in life and then became a loyal pet. Good on him
I got my Babadook book! As soon as the movie was over I checked to see if they were making a copy.
😳
Has a great making of on the DVD. Do you get all that when you buy or stream? I assume most reactors stream online or buy online.