63: The Babadook (2014)

We continue our venture into international horror waters this week with an Australian entry in Jennifer Kent's The Babadook! Join us as we discuss frazzled mothers, bad vibes kids, and what the real monster is: grief, or, uh, a literal monster. CHAPTERS: (00:00:00) - The Nextlander Watchcast Episode 63: The Babadook (2014) (00:00:34) - Intro. (00:02:33) - The Babadook, and the subgenre of "elevated" horror. (00:04:40) - Initial thoughts. (00:08:56) - Getting into the production of the film. (00:13:23) - On the subject of our child star and raising bad vibes kids. (00:20:35) - The concept and design of the monster. (00:26:32) - Starting our trek through the movie. (00:34:23) - The few people (and one dog) who try their best to help. (00:37:44) - Break! (00:38:05) - We're back, and here comes the Babadook! (00:39:55) - Mom and Sam's isolation, and the movie's willingness to never definitively say what's in their head vs. real. (00:46:39) - The book. (00:51:31) - Some discussion of how good the central performances are. (00:55:50) - The book comes back, and mom gets mean. (01:01:05) - Sleep at all costs. (01:05:47) - The possession. (01:09:38) - Mom is officially over the edge. (01:18:17) - The dead husband visions. (01:19:46) - Sam goes full Home Alone. (01:24:17) - Mom barfs some Babadook, but it ain't over yet. (01:27:08) - The epilogue. (01:35:33) - The Babadook's role as an LGBTQ icon. (01:38:37) - Final thoughts. (01:44:34) - Outro.