DVD & BluRay

THE BABADOOK

Second Sight, cert 15; Bluray £17.99

Following the chance for 5,000 movie connoisseurs to own a sumptuous Limited Edition boxset collection featuring this Australian horror classic, comes a more affordable version.

If you can live without the booklet, a 4K UHD version (although you can get one with 4K for an extra seven quid), and art cards that collectors’ treasure, then this will satisfy you. This is a dark fairy tale for adults with brilliant direction by Jennifer Kent and the apparently innocent nursery rhyme “If it’s in a word, or if it’s in a book, you can’t get rid of The Babadook, baba-ba-dook-dookdook” will send a shiver down your spine. Essie Davis, in a part that’s miles away from her glamorous Roaring Twenties look in hit TV series Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, plays Amelia who gave birth to her son after her husband was killed making a dash to the maternity ward.

Now young Samuel’s become a disturbed and difficult child filled with fears of imaginary monsters. He clings to his mum and devises weapons to protect them. Sam’s out of control and almost kills his cousin, driving a wedge between Amelia and her sister Claire, just when some sisterly support is really needed.

Run ragged by Sam’s fears and lack of sleep, Amelia thinks things can’t get worse. But, they do, when Sam finds a creepy children’s book about an evil entity called The Babadook. Now Sam’s convinced it’s out to get him and scared stiff Amelia fears he’s right. You might peek under the bed - just in case - before turning the lights out after viewing.

8

Our rating:

(out of 10)