One of the most iconic horror movies of the last decade is coming back to theaters with The Babadooks 10th anniversary releases. The 2014 film served as the feature directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Jennifer Kent, based on her 2005 short film. Monster. In the years since, Kent has steadily built a filmography of acclaimed projects, including the 2018 historical psychological thriller The Nightingale And an episode of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiositieswho reunited with her Babadook Starring Essie Davis.
The Babadook Centered on Davis’ Amelia Vanek and her son, Samuel, who are both still grieving the sudden death of her husband and his father, Oscar, in a car accident while driving Amelia to the hospital to give birth to Samuel. Amelia, already exhausted by the extra attention her son needs amid growing behavioral problems, finds her life thrown into turmoil after reading a mysterious pop-up book, Mr. BabadookWhat Samuel is convinced is real, as Amelia is also frightened by the disturbing material inside. When they both begin to experience seeming hauntings, they must confront their past traumas as they determine how real the entity is.
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Along with Davis, the ensemble Babadook The cast includes Noah Wiseman as Samuel, Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear. Although it initially failed to gain attention in its home country of Australia, the movie has since been seen as an international hit, garnering widespread acclaim from critics and audiences and still landing on many lists of the best horror movies of the 2010s. .
In anticipation of the 10th anniversary of the movie’s release, Screen Rant Interviewed writer/director Jennifer Kent to reflect The Babadooks legacy, the hurdles she faced when she first tried to make the film, her love for the titular entity becoming an LGBTQ+ icon over the years, her thoughts on a potential sequel to the movie, and the projects she has on the horizon .
Kent has aFunny fondness“For The Babadook After 10 years
She is also incredibly excited about her American tour for the re-release.
Screen Rant: Jennifer, it’s an honor to speak with you. I love all your work, not just The BabadookBut also The Nightingale And yours Cabinet of curiosities episode. It’s amazing to think we’re already in the 10-year anniversary of The Babadook. How do you feel about her reflecting on the legacy of the movie?
Jennifer Kent: It’s crazy that it’s been 10 years. I remember being nervous just before Sundance, wondering how it was all going to go. So, yes, I have a strange fondness for it. It’s like a kid who grew up and went to college or university or something. But yeah, I’m really excited to come to America. I went to New York and LA and also to Austin, on the jury of Fantastic Fest, so it’s an exciting trip.
A question I like to ask filmmakers like myself who have such a big breakout hit with their first film is that sometimes they want to break apart from that, and show that they’re not just that one film, whether it’s a radical Genre change or even just a sidestep within the same genre. Have you ever felt at times that reach with, “Yes, I did The BabadookBut I can do more than that“?
Jennifer Kent: Oh, definitely. I think people are surprised to see me doing the Nightingale next. But, for me, filmmaking is very much about starting with an idea or a feeling or an idea that you have, and then it grows and grows, and then you want to make the next film. It’s not like I wanted to be the queen of horror, but I also respect horror, and I think it’s much broader than a lot of people understand. And the history of horror goes back to the beginning of cinema, so it is not a new genre. For me, it’s just about writing the next thing and how to get it made. It’s still as difficult to make things as it was with The Babadook, it was very, very difficult to get that film,
Australia originally had little faith in The Babadooks success chances
“The filmmaking culture was very snobbish towards horror”
So, what was one of the biggest selling points that you had in trying to get producers and financiers on board for this film?
Jennifer Kent: I think the script. I mean, even with the script, there were four or five companies interested overseas. But initially, at the time in Australia, the filmmaking culture was very snobbish towards horror. It was seen as something kind of low and not a real film. So, it is quite difficult to get it financed here. But when we received the interest of overseas sales agents with the script, that’s when the money started to fall into place. But I had written many films before The Babadook that never got made, so I was at the end of a long line of trying different stories to get them.
And with this film, I deliberately set out to make a film that could be made for a lower budget, largely set in a house with two characters. These were pragmatic things that I knew I couldn’t go beyond, otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to get it financed. But, yes, not so much during production, but even in post, there was a lot of resistance to what people finally saw as the finished film, by the financiers and by people involved. It was not a straight course to the finish line. I had to really protect it, and so did the producers, and they did.
Kent has had some emotional connections with fans over the years
“There is nothing better”
The film explores so many important themes of grief and processing emotions. What has been one of your favorite things to hear from fans of the film, such as myself, who approach you with their takeaway from the film and its story?
Jennifer Kent: Yes, I have had personal correspondence with people whose own lives [were reflected in the film]. I remember one person wrote to me whose father died when he was a child, and his mother raised three boys, and he said seeing this film was better than 20 years of therapy. [Laughs]And he was very moved by it through his first hand experience. I had another person who just lost their partner, suddenly, tragically, their wife died, things like that. People really only hope for this with a film, that people are moved, and it speaks to them so directly, and that. I don’t think that film can necessarily change the world, but if it can move people and comfort them or offer them something, that’s my job done. There is nothing better.
Kent May Not Know Why The Babadook Is An LGBTQ+ Icon (But Loves It)
“Can you explain it to me”
One of the things I also love that this film has in its legacy is that the Babadook has become an LGBTQ+ icon. I know you’ve talked about how you find it funny and great at the same time, but I’m curious—because I’m in the community—why do you think it is that we’ve embraced him as such?
Jennifer Kent: Maybe you can explain it to me [chuckles]But I think it started as a joke by being kind of miscategorized on Netflix, and then people just went with it. And I love it. I love hearing drag queens talk about The Babadook. It’s like, “I’ve made it!” I love that it’s still alive and referenced in popular culture. There is no greater compliment. He’s a bit theatrical, you know, who knows?
Kent softened a little on a Babadook Sequel (but don’t expect one anytime soon)
“The thoughts take over”
I also wanted to ask, since you mentioned that the film stayed alive with people. It is also rare in the horror genre in that it has no sequels. You’ve talked about in the past how you and one of your producers are holding onto the rights, and that you have no interest in doing so. But with 10 years gone, this is an entity that, as we talked about, really promotes emotional growth and processing in the characters who encounter it. Do you have any thoughts or a change of heart about producing a follow-up?
Jennifer Kent: No, I think I’m also involved in other films that I’m trying to make. I mean, if there was suddenly a desperate urge to tell a story related to that, I’d probably say, “Okay, all bets are off. I’m going to go and make the sequel.” But I just can’t see that happening. I feel that this idea has really been explored. There are other kinds of scary films in the wings, one in particular that I’m really invested in happening, and also a horror series that I’ve been developing that I’m really excited about as well. So the thoughts take over.
Kent is together with a “Very well known horror author“For a new project
“It’s not Stephen King”
Before I let you go, can you tell me a little about any of the projects you have coming up?
Jennifer Kent: I can tell you that I am teaming up with a very well-known horror writer/author to try to make one of his books. And it’s not Stephen King. [Chuckles] So, that’s all I can say at this point. We hope to release information about this in a couple of weeks. We’re in the middle of the deal, but if it goes forward, I’m super excited about next year. I love Stephen King, of course, nothing against him, but it’s not him.
About The Babadook
In honor of the 10th anniversary of the iconic indie horror film THE BABADOOK, the modern classic will return to theaters with an exclusive Q&A with writer/director Jennifer Kent.
Six years after the violent death of her husband, Amelia (Essie Davis) is at a loss. She struggles to discipline her out-of-control 6-year-old, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), a son she is impossible to love. Samuel’s dreams are plagued by a monster that he believes is coming to kill them both. When a disturbing storybook named ‘The Babadook’ appears in their house, Samuel is convinced that the Babadook is the creature he dreamed of. His hallucinations spiral out of control, he becomes more unpredictable and violent. Amelia, really afraid of her son’s behavior, is forced to medicate him. But when Amelia begins to see glimpses of an evil presence around her, it slowly dawns that the thing that Samuel warned her about could be real.
Source: Screen Rant Plus