Read Negative User Reviews for The Babadook

2

dancrumDec 25, 2014

My friend, who is big into horror films, demanded we watch this movie. "It's the scariest movie of the year!" she exclaimed over and over. "We have to watch it!" The scariest movie of the year? Well I have to watch that don't I? So, we did.My friend, who is big into horror films, demanded we watch this movie. "It's the scariest movie of the year!" she exclaimed over and over. "We have to watch it!" The scariest movie of the year? Well I have to watch that don't I? So, we did. The thing is, I really wish we hadn't. The Babadook starts off slow, building tension between a stressed out mother and her son, who I can only assume suffers from some form of mental handicap. Throughout the first half, the film builds tension, but never enough to have you on the edge of your seat, just barely enough to keep your eyes on the screen. The second half of the movie is even worse. There is a climax that just feels rushed and sloppy, and the ending literally caused me to throw my hands up in the air. It was just, terrible, for lack of a better word. There is nothing scary about The Babadook. There is little even worth watching in The Babadook. The only saving grace was the beautifully crafted book they used in the movie. Outside of that one prop, this film was an utter waste of time. It easily falls into my list of the worst films I've seen in 2014.… Expand

10 of 20 users found this helpful1010

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2

BlackavarsDec 6, 2014

This movie gets a lower score due to how much potential it had. Given a good script rewrite it could have been a classic. It has some small pacing issues but thats nothing compared to the tiny cast of entirely unlikable characters. The kid isThis movie gets a lower score due to how much potential it had. Given a good script rewrite it could have been a classic. It has some small pacing issues but thats nothing compared to the tiny cast of entirely unlikable characters. The kid is awful from the get go and you really hope he's the first to die. You empathize with the mom a bit for dealing with the little sh¡t but she isnt very likable either. Perhaps through the use of flashblacks they could have made you care about them more or if they added more characters to help give context rather than isolate the characters then they could have achieved the same result. But, in the end, it is just two unlikable characters that can't die soon enough.… Expand

8 of 16 users found this helpful88

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1

vrchrisJan 6, 2015

If you are thinking this will be a good horror movie then you are in for a disappointment. There are no attempts to make you jump. The film relies on slowly (very tediously slowly) building up the tension and creepiness. However it reallyIf you are thinking this will be a good horror movie then you are in for a disappointment. There are no attempts to make you jump. The film relies on slowly (very tediously slowly) building up the tension and creepiness. However it really fails to do this - instead juts becoming more depressing (its basically a story about a mother struggling to cope with depression) and absurd as the film progresses. You will be hoping that the ending redeems itself but it doesn't. Nothing about the film is clever or original. The acting is shoddy. The film is so dark throughout its hard to see whats going on. The babadook looks like Marylin Manson. Avoid… Expand

6 of 14 users found this helpful68

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1

lightningbarerJan 1, 2015

Honestly I don't get it sometimes, there are movies that are just meh, there are movies that are terrible and there are movies that just don't even try.
the Babadook isn't any of these things.
It's like two scripts were jammed together toHonestly I don't get it sometimes, there are movies that are just meh, there are movies that are terrible and there are movies that just don't even try.
the Babadook isn't any of these things.
It's like two scripts were jammed together to make a full one because the writers of each didn't have the patience to try and write a full story.
Or they found that the idea of the movie is silly and couldn't write their way out of it.

This movie is a mess of bad writing, it's a hodge-podge of two separate stories, one of a person under a possession going insane and one of a person "thinking" they're under a possession and due to that, losing their mind.
It's right there in the visuals, we see things hinting that all of this is based on her delusions several times, there are hints that she may have already lost her mind and forgotten that she'd done something. There's no explanation for things and there's no "reason" for anything.
Take the book itself, it's sitting there on the kid's shelf and after reading it, the babadook comes calling.
How did it get there? Why is it that a kid who has night terrors and needs a book reading to him hasn't had this book read before? Are these things just there for no reason?
There are hints that this is all in her head and she can't remember doing things, for instance she's said to be an author and we see her hands dirty from what looks like charcoal. Is this implying she made the book, forgot and after destroying it, remade it and then forgot that?

See, no reason is given, now I'll commend this for the acting and the visuals, but that alone doesn't make a good movie. It's just Bad.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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3

darocziJan 6, 2015

Great acting, but there's no relate-able characters. There's a despicable mother, a headache-inducing child, everything is dark grey, the mood is depression and sadness from start to finish, and the horror elements are straight out of anyGreat acting, but there's no relate-able characters. There's a despicable mother, a headache-inducing child, everything is dark grey, the mood is depression and sadness from start to finish, and the horror elements are straight out of any other ghost movie, except that I didn't find them well executed in any way. I didn't care in the least if everyone in the film died. I'm not saying it's a bad film, I'm giving the reasons why I hated it.… Expand

5 of 12 users found this helpful57

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0

viewerFeb 8, 2015

A film that mixes tired horror devices, pseudoscience, and some of the sexist and perverse aspects of modern Feminism that everyone seems to be warming up to these days, into a hot, steaming pot of cream of glass soup, or black vomit, orA film that mixes tired horror devices, pseudoscience, and some of the sexist and perverse aspects of modern Feminism that everyone seems to be warming up to these days, into a hot, steaming pot of cream of glass soup, or black vomit, or sh*t—take your pick. Watching this film was a sickening experience made all the more sickening by its critical acclaim. Also, despite the fact that many (presumably blind and deaf) critics state that this film does not rely on jump scares, . . . it kinda does. Yes, the film also employs stale psychological thriller tactics to try to scare you, but that doesn't just erase the jump scares, nor does it make it an innovative or scary film; all that does is make it a film that tries and fails to scare you with two standard genre tactics in a very predictable way. Think of this movie as an un-scary, un-atmospheric "The Shining," meets every jump-scare horror film with a child and a monster, meets every modern possession film. My theory as to why this movie received critical acclaim is that the critics were so tired of dissing stale horror films that they physically couldn't do it anymore due to severe nausea and were compelled to give it a positive review—that or the Babadook possessed them.… Expand

7 of 17 users found this helpful710

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0

Pelen23Feb 24, 2015

This so called scary film is a waste of time and I blame the critics for the hype as the film has lots of plot holes and undeveloped subplots . Surely , the critics would have noticed but they still give good reviews to this rubbish. Over theThis so called scary film is a waste of time and I blame the critics for the hype as the film has lots of plot holes and undeveloped subplots . Surely , the critics would have noticed but they still give good reviews to this rubbish. Over the top performances caused lots of giggles in the cinema. Even this proves that the film is far from being scary.… Expand

8 of 20 users found this helpful812

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0

Death0fLoveAug 24, 2015

I found absolutely nothing about this movie enjoyable. I found it impossible to care about the mother or her son (needless to say, I wanted him dead when he was in the back of the car annoyingly crying out "mommy" repeatedly). You aren'tI found absolutely nothing about this movie enjoyable. I found it impossible to care about the mother or her son (needless to say, I wanted him dead when he was in the back of the car annoyingly crying out "mommy" repeatedly). You aren't given any real back story to understand exactly what is going on until half way through the movie they FINALLY explain that the father/husband died trying to get the mother to the hospital when she went into labor. Everything before that you just have a mother who doesn't really care about her son and her son who is the most annoying child in any movie in the history of cinematography and his obsession with monsters and his night terrors. The fact that they try to force viewers to swallow the concept of a mother resenting her only child just on the grounds that her husband/father of her child died the day the child was born is completely asinine. So a mother unrealistically resents her only child for nearly 7 years and, after merely reading a book, becomes "possessed" and starts to go "crazy." Where did the book come from? It was obviously a scary story so why the hell did she read it to her son that is prone to night terrors? Logic is one of the things this movie is sorely missing. None of it actually makes sense. The "creature" (which is a cheap mix-up of Freddy Krueger & Nosferatu with the most laughable voice) is supposed to be a representation of her suppressed emotions about what happened to her husband yet it somehow, by the end of the movie, becomes an actual supernatural being living in the basement?! I cannot fathom how this movie is getting such praise when it is an absolute **** of stupidity. I really wish I could have the $5 I wasted to rent this movie as well as the 90 minutes I wasted watching it back. This was, without a doubt, the worst, bland, non-frightening, unappealing horror movie I have ever watched. I don't care if people dislike my review. This is my opinion of this **** movie and I hated every second of it.… Expand

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

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1

zedzdedDec 4, 2014

I watched engrossed for the first half an hour. It seemed like an interesting story with a stressed out, well meaning single mother and her problem child and his violent antisocial behaviours and what seemed to be an over active imagination.I watched engrossed for the first half an hour. It seemed like an interesting story with a stressed out, well meaning single mother and her problem child and his violent antisocial behaviours and what seemed to be an over active imagination.

The acting was well done and both the mother and the kid are good actors.

Unfortunately the horror of the movie was laughable and when they tried to scare you, the whole thing fell apart. I started laughing at the voices that were suppose to terrify and the effects used were straight out of a student movie.

It got to the point where I completely lost interest. I continued to watch for a while but I skipped the last 15 minutes cause it was so crap. Don't believe all the reviews. This was a dreadful movie and best avoided.… Expand

9 of 23 users found this helpful914

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1

ariel84Dec 23, 2014

don't waste your money. until the allegedly scary thing appears, the film's quite good. if the story just stuck with the mother unraveling over the stress of having a strange child, it would've had this chilling, claustrophic effect. thedon't waste your money. until the allegedly scary thing appears, the film's quite good. if the story just stuck with the mother unraveling over the stress of having a strange child, it would've had this chilling, claustrophic effect. the babadook brings on histrionic acting and tired horror tropes. the pop up book was creepier than its subject.… Expand

5 of 13 users found this helpful58

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1

FishersamDec 3, 2014

I hated this film. To summarize it. It is about a woman raising her child alone after her husband died in a car wreck before the child's birth.

Le me tell you why i hate this film. It was suppose to be a "scary movie". At no point wasI hated this film. To summarize it. It is about a woman raising her child alone after her husband died in a car wreck before the child's birth.

Le me tell you why i hate this film. It was suppose to be a "scary movie". At no point was anything about this film scary. There were a few exorcist-like scenes that we have all seen 277 times. The film developed extremely slow. The director focused on showing how horrible of a mother the main character is. She lets her son walk all over her and never considers disciplining him. Single mother or not, that kid needed a spanking. After filling 80% of the movie with boring back story about an annoying unruly child, they started to discuss The Babadook. The film never established the antagonist, The Babadook, or why the movie goer should be afraid of him. The film simply goes, "Hi everyone, this woman who can't get over her past doesn't know how to discipline her son. Now here is a moving suit that talks and creates wall shadows!"

I kept watching the film waiting for it to give me something but before i knew it, the end of the movie was there. I WONT but i almost want to spoil the ending so viewers wont have to sit through what I sat through. Lets just say the ending leaves a lot to be desired.

For the first half of the film, I thought the boy had autism but it just turns out, he's just a really awful person because his mother is a really awful mother. A lot of people will say the kid was just a great actor to make the viewers hate him so much but I'll counter that by saying they went overboard and focused waaayyyy too much of the film on how much of an awful kid and mother the pair were.… Expand

7 of 19 users found this helpful712

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1

Dallas25May 24, 2015

What movie did everyone watch who gave this great ratings? This movie was horrible and was more cheesy than Sharknado. The ending is absolutely ridiculous. The scariest part of this movie is when the credits start rolling and you realize youWhat movie did everyone watch who gave this great ratings? This movie was horrible and was more cheesy than Sharknado. The ending is absolutely ridiculous. The scariest part of this movie is when the credits start rolling and you realize you will never get that hour and a half of your life back.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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0

rageinblackJul 7, 2018

I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say this is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life! And I watched horror movies for 30 years. But this one is so bad that I seriously felt the urge to gauge my eyes out! I mean really?!?I'm not exaggerating one bit when I say this is one of the worst movies I have ever seen in my entire life! And I watched horror movies for 30 years. But this one is so bad that I seriously felt the urge to gauge my eyes out! I mean really?!? How on earth did anyone think, that two such atrociously unlikable and annoying characters with a laughably ridiculous looking monster and a mediocre story, would ever make a good movie? The whole movie is a pain to watch from start to finish, every minute is atrocious! There is absolutely nothing good about it, except the nicely crafted book, and the overall visual atmosphere of that house and its surroundings and that couple of seconds of the CGI monster at the very end. I honestly can't remember where was the last time I wanted a movie to end so bad, I was seriously tempted to turn it off many many times, but due to all the hype surrounding it, I was determined to keep on going till the end. To keep torturing myself... I wish I hadn't. A waste of time and nerves and with such a mediocre story and no redeeming factor whatsoever. Also, I didn't find the kid to be a good actor the least. Besides being so unbearably annoying, his scenes looked forced and pushed. Like in my mind, I could almost see the movie crew telling him what to do in the background, and him listening to them and suddenly executing orders on the spot, it was really that bad. The mother was the better actress, but not very likable and also quite annoying. The scene where the Babadook was shown flying off the ceiling with the stop-motion effect was simply awful. But what hurts me even more about the whole thing is that I'm watching the whole world gone insane before my very eyes; praising this movie like possessed! Like, I keep seeing this boring, annoying little movie on top of the best horror movies charts of the year and even of all time!!! And here on Metacritic, it has a higher rating than Alien. Can you even imagine??? This little mess of a movie has a higher rating than The Host, Carrie, Get Out, The Witch, Drag Me to Hell, Alien, Sweeney Todd, A Quiet Place, ... Just to name a few movies that are on the top but, unfathomably, still under The Babadook. Take a minute and let this sink into your head now. What are you guys even doing with your life here at Metacritic? But it's not only Metacritic, it's everywhere. This kind of things make me lose hope in the future of horror movies, and this is sad.

In conclusion, this movie is overrated like hell and it blows my mind to not being able to even nearly comprehend why it got so much praise, besides the gay community. As you may know, in 2017 The Babadook became the official gay icon for the pride month, but still... this was in 2017. This movie got praised since it came out, but why? I would not recommend it to my worst enemy. I hated it, it's pure torture of the body mind and soul.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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3

LeoKearseMay 2, 2016

This is a weak, unpleasant film. It starts well, there are a few jolts and the film looks like it's going in an interesting direction, but then spoils it all with tricksy music video editing and showing too much of the monster, which throwsThis is a weak, unpleasant film. It starts well, there are a few jolts and the film looks like it's going in an interesting direction, but then spoils it all with tricksy music video editing and showing too much of the monster, which throws the the suspense and suspension of disbelief. It trades in atmosphere and shocks for meanness and cruelty, then meanders around and ends about 5 times. By the time it did end we'd been bored for a while.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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ladypewSep 10, 2015

Most overrated piece of horror. ever. can't even............................................................................................................

4 of 13 users found this helpful49

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NazguleroMay 10, 2015

There really is nothing scary about this movie. The one thing that scares the living hell out of you is the kid. You must feel sorry for the mother, and during the entire movie, you hope that this annoying brat gets eaten alive by a terrible monster.

5 of 17 users found this helpful512

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3

SEROJOct 26, 2018

I don't care how you're going to explain to me "The babadook". It had very minor pros and was nothing special! I don't find this to be a good cinema, and i don't think i'll watch it again!

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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3

AaronWasserman1Mar 26, 2016

The first half of this movie was intriguing. The ending and the second half, was horrible, making the whole experience not worth while. Decent performances with a total misfire

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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2

darkbeast119Nov 28, 2014

The babadook is a psychological horror film meant only for big horror fans and for the vulgar ignorant masses known as the film critic. I will admit this film will give you a scare and I only watched a few scenes in the movie. But when aThe babadook is a psychological horror film meant only for big horror fans and for the vulgar ignorant masses known as the film critic. I will admit this film will give you a scare and I only watched a few scenes in the movie. But when a maniacal mother kills her pet dog and tries to murder her own son, this gives me enough reason to call the film a utter toilet bowl splash back. The corny plot, unneeded over the top acting, gimmick scare scenes makes this film perfect for non horror film fans and i am no horror fan. Ultimately It's not the movie for me and the reason why it is so bad in the first place is because of the foolish critics who call the film perfect and keeps getting overrated like all overrated crap. So that Is my review… Expand

8 of 34 users found this helpful826

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Drizz1114Nov 29, 2014

I just watched this movie. I was rooting for the babadook! one of the worst movies I have ever seen! I will give the lead actress kudos, but story line was awful. I will be calling directv to get my money back

11 of 56 users found this helpful1145

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kerrflannAug 3, 2016

absolute garbage wouldn't recommend to anyone the start made it seem ok then it got progressively boring.
the 'monster' was so boring too. i literally just finished watching and i think i need a nap so bad. only watch if you're bored. ohabsolute garbage wouldn't recommend to anyone the start made it seem ok then it got progressively boring.
the 'monster' was so boring too. i literally just finished watching and i think i need a nap so bad. only watch if you're bored. oh yeah and hows this got 98% on rotten tomatoes.. bruhhh… Expand

3 of 23 users found this helpful320

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0

AnActualSharkJun 18, 2021

This movie is garbage for your eyes and ears. The protagonist kid is incredibly annoying, with zero redeeming qualities and makes you want to root for the monster. The mother is a bland boring character who is frustrated (justifiably) withThis movie is garbage for your eyes and ears. The protagonist kid is incredibly annoying, with zero redeeming qualities and makes you want to root for the monster. The mother is a bland boring character who is frustrated (justifiably) with her annoying child. The monster is barely present. You are just sitting through a movie of these two lame humans. This movie sucks, do yourself a favor and watch something else.… Expand

1 of 29 users found this helpful128

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3

imthenoobAug 5, 2019

The painfully slow build-up doesn't pay off by the end of the film. I never really felt interested or scared when watching this film. Especially with the annoying over-reliance on jump scares.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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3

GramatikaNov 23, 2017

While the first 30 minutes or so of the movie suggest a worthy premise and offer some unexpected frights, the remaining portions of the movie are just unconnected, unimaginative and - to be frank - senseless. Don't compare this to DavidWhile the first 30 minutes or so of the movie suggest a worthy premise and offer some unexpected frights, the remaining portions of the movie are just unconnected, unimaginative and - to be frank - senseless. Don't compare this to David Lynch, please - in this movie we have the bizarre for the sake of the bizarre and absolutely no underlying meaning. There is nothing to round the movie up and give it the coherence it badly needs. I am appalled that people call this one of the best horror movies of the year 2014 - it only means that the average viewer has no taste whatsoever.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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3

S1r-R34lFeb 23, 2017

This film tries too hard and fails. It gives you characters you cannot relate too, which by the end you're hoping the Babadook has its evil way with them, cause the planet would be a better place without these two characters. Then there'sThis film tries too hard and fails. It gives you characters you cannot relate too, which by the end you're hoping the Babadook has its evil way with them, cause the planet would be a better place without these two characters. Then there's the ending... if the direction of the characters wasn't enough to destroy this film, then the ending should be. I was unsatisfied and disheartened.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

Eye_of_HorusJul 11, 2017

Direction/Cinematography:amazing
Acting:Average
Writing:below average scare factor:Awful The concept was good but the actual writing of the characters was bad with the only good character being the dog. Jennifer Kent did a great Job with theDirection/Cinematography:amazing
Acting:Average
Writing:below average
scare factor:Awful
The concept was good but the actual writing of the characters was bad with the only good character being the dog. Jennifer Kent did a great Job with the direction, how there are some scenes where it does completely fall apart. Essie Davis does a decent job, but Noah Wiseman is an absolutely terrible child actor. As for the Babadook, he looks awful and in no way intimidating. The Babadook's voice is laughable, somebody give him a strepsil. Overall it's one of the most overrated movies of all time… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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PaddzonikJul 10, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The dog dies! The film was going okay a bit slow but the dog dies so I have no choice!… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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1

YurchikMay 21, 2017

Very bad movie! The actors are terrible. It is not clear what kind of monster it is and what are its goals. The end of the film is also not understandable. The script is bad, it's a parody of "Exorcist" or "Astral". I did not like! In short,Very bad movie! The actors are terrible. It is not clear what kind of monster it is and what are its goals. The end of the film is also not understandable. The script is bad, it's a parody of "Exorcist" or "Astral". I did not like! In short, the film gets 1 out of 10.… Expand