A decade later, ‘The Babadook’ is still with us, stronger than ever in memes
As a film enthusiast with a keen eye for emerging trends and a hearty appreciation for the unexpected, I find myself utterly captivated by the extraordinary journey of “The Babadook.” This seemingly innocuous children’s book monster has morphed into an unforeseen beacon of queer culture, and it’s as fascinating as it is delightful.
Initially, when Jennifer Kent was crafting a horror movie revolving around grief, she frequently encountered individuals who doubted its potential. Many criticized the suggested title for her project, which also represented the menacing creature symbolizing unresolved pain that she had conceived.
She recalls being advised that the title “The Babadook” wouldn’t stick. She found it absurd, thinking no one would recall such an unusual name for a film.
55-year-old Kent, originally from Australia, spoke with The Times via Zoom and is no longer intimidated by those who initially doubted her. Time has shown them to be wrong. Her 2014 film, featuring a powerful performance by Essie Davis as a single mother battling to maintain her life in the wake of her husband’s tragic death, is set for a limited theatrical re-release starting Thursday.
The re-launch commemorates ten years since Kent’s terrifying mother-son horror movie, initially screened at Sundance, garnered acclaim (from notables like Stephen King and William Friedkin), bagged an esteemed award from the New York Film Critics Circle, and generated over $10 million worldwide on a production budget of just $2 million.
The appreciation for “The Babadook” has blossomed even more – not despite, but possibly because of its unusual title.
Kent points out that some folks commented, ‘It’s such a silly name,’ but he admits it is indeed odd. Yet, there’s an unusual quality about this person that sticks in people’s minds.
Kent immediately lights up, as if she were talking about an old friend.
In the movie “The Babadook”, the audience first encounters the title character through a bedtime storybook. Six-year-old Sam (played by Noah Wiseman) is a troubled child, often causing distress to his constantly fatigued mother Amelia (Davis). Every night, he insists on being read to. One specific evening, just before Sam’s birthday, which carries significant weight in their solitary lives, Amelia picks up a book she’s never noticed on the shelf before and starts reading it aloud.
If it’s in a word or shown through a glance,” the opening lines convey, “the Babadook cannot be shaken off.” (This nursery rhyme carries an undeniably eerie atmosphere.) It’s accompanied by hand-sketched charcoal drawings that portray a figure wearing a vintage top hat, with eyes that bulge ominously, a wicked smile to match, and a voluminous trench coat concealing spindly hands.
Kent recalls the time in 2010 when she tragically lost her father and gave birth to ‘The Babadook.’ During those months, she was deeply immersed in the raw emotions of grief and pain. Pondering over this experience as a natural process, she began wondering, ‘What if someone were unable to endure such loss?’ This idea emerged primarily from some people’s reactions to her grief, who either struggled to empathize with it or found it frightening.
The appearance of the movie, including that of the Babadook character, was shaped by Kent’s collaboration with illustrator Alex Juhasz. Their minimalist style contributed to the homemade aesthetic that Kent, a former actor, envisioned for her first full-length film. Similar to her 2005 short film “Monster,” which foreshadowed “The Babadook,” Kent aimed to evoke the same whimsical yet eerie atmosphere found in early silent films.
She expresses that she desired the creature to seem like it was pretending to be human. Upon viewing the images of Lon Chaney from the 1927 silent movie “London After Midnight,” she found that eerie, macabre quality. However, she also noticed a touch of kitschiness, which she thought fit perfectly.
The straightforward design and hints of self-aware artifice are part of what made Kent’s bogeyman an unexpected symbol for the gay community. As “The Babadook” gained recognition as a classic horror film, it quickly evolved into a popular meme generator. By summer 2017, these memes found a following within the LGBTQ+ community.
In an October 2016 Tumblr post, a user expressed, “Every time someone says The Babadook isn’t openly gay, it’s like… didn’t you watch the movie?” Michael J. Faris, an academic who has studied the film’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community, notes that this very post might have sparked the movie’s acceptance within this group.
1) The cheeky, viral nature of these posts played a crucial role in how Kent’s horror movie spread among heavily online communities over the years. To dispute the Babadook’s queer identity was to challenge his essence itself. This was hidden guilt. This was danger masked by a top hat. This was a suburban family under threat.
Kent chuckles and then reflects, admitting that at first, she felt puzzled by the unanticipated queer impact of her movie. However, as it continued to resonate, she thought, “Perhaps there’s something here worth considering, and I find it quite charming.
Supporters swiftly depicted Kent’s quirky monster against colorful skyscapes. They were adapting his rhythmic structures to resonate with modern LGBTQ+ slang (“BABAYAAAAAAAAASS!!!”, one illustration exclaimed). They were digitally superimposing his face onto old images of muscular men from the 1970s in short shorts. At the finale taping of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9, held in summer 2017, internet sensation Miles Jai made an appearance dressed as the Babadook.
According to Kent, if it’s a joke or something shared online without much significance, it usually fades away quickly. However, this one has an unusual staying power. It managed to be amusing for a while, but what makes it endure is something more substantial.
Kent has since seen her character enjoying a life unlike any she could have envisioned for him.
As a film critic, I’ve just penned down my thoughts, straight from the heart, drawing upon profound personal experiences. This work is indeed a poignant exploration of grief, but it delves even deeper into the theme of suppression. The message it conveys can be interpreted as a defiant, “I refuse to be silenced! I’ll only grow stronger, more prominent, and more intimidating if you try to suppress me!
In the movie, he might seem like an ominous figure shrouded in darkness and chirping like an insect, but out in the real world, the Babadook has transformed into a fiercely independent, witty queer icon who doesn’t tolerate nonsense. He’s a solitary soul, often found in his basement lair, indulging in self-admiration while tormenting unsuspecting young boys for amusement. To put it another way, as a sketch from the animated parody series “Robot Chicken,” inspired by “Queer Eye,” describes him: he’s a secretive recluse with a fondness for steampunk accessories.
In retrospect, Kent believes that the unconventional approach she initially took to promote the movie was inherently present from the start.
She reminisces, “During the publicity and promotion for the film, things were quite simple and old-school. So, I took on the role of ‘The Babadook’ on Facebook. Each day, I’d log in and entertain people with my antics. The character was incredibly funny, and it was a joy to portray him – even if just online.
Initially, Kent didn’t expect “The Babadook” to remain so popular for a long time. It’s fascinating to her how it was warmly received, in contrast to how difficult it was for her later film, “The Nightingale,” released in 2018, to attract an audience.
Speaking with a touch of melancholy, Kent expressed his surprise when “The Nightingale”, released amidst an era dominated by violence and particularly violent portrayals of women, was not widely accepted as he had anticipated. Instead, it faced a great deal of misinterpretation and became quite controversial, which was unexpected to him.
Initially, “The Babadook” gained significant momentum, transitioning from a captivating antagonist to a viral phenomenon on social media, and eventually becoming a cultural symbol. The movie was meme-worthy even before the term became widely recognized. As time passes, the Australian filmmaker anticipates continued surprises as the film resonates with younger and more modern audiences.
Kent confirms he adores the spotlight; it’s quite evident,” Kent smiles, revealing this about his clever invention. “He’s thriving on it.
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2024-09-18 13:31