I dont even hate the movie, I dont even care that people like it.

It just really bothers me that a lot of people are saying “This is how Horror movies should be” which makes me wonder, so people just want Thrillers now, people want movies that are not horror at all now?
Studios will pay attention to that, why do you think there are so many found footage movies made now. Paranormal was huge and everyone followed.
I really really, really dont want the horror community to follow in the footsteps of a Thriller movie. a movie that barely counts as horror

Oh I agree Psychological horror for sure

Agreed, there is quite a good case for it being mental illness, or a metaphor for mental illness. Personally, I don’t actually have a strong opinion on the “genre” or “is the monster real” debates. Objectively and unbiased, I just enjoy the movie and find it terrifying regardless.

But, just to add a balance to this discussion:

1. On the IMDb page ( https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2321549/ ) the film is listed as both a Horror AND Thriller. The two aren’t mutually exclusive.

2. The writer and director of the film, Jennifer Kent, herself, refers to the film as horror in this interview:

https://web.archive.org/web/20150726024529/https://thedissolve.com/features/emerging/834-the-babadook-director-jennifer-kent-talks-about-dr/

But, my opinion has always been that everything, especially art, is always open to interpretation even regardless of the intention laid out by the creator. So please understand Josh, I fully respect your opinion and interpretation and have no desire to change it. I just hope you can try and return the favor to others when you disagree with them… the whole point of the actual article we’re having this discussion on.

While I personally don’t enjoy you or Vyle firing back at one another (feel free to fire away at me if you like) just because you disagree with one another and wish you’d consider a different approach, I respect your free speech, so fire away. Feel free to continue this line of discussion, but I have nothing left to add on the subject.

Thanks

there have been a lot of debates about this on imdb, reddit, bloody disgusting
the conclusion after all the discussions is that she is just mentally sick, take a look at the IMBD page for this movie.
you will be laughed out of the room and mocked if you even try to bring up the fact that the creature was real. it doesn’t matter how much you reason it, There was no monster. the proof always go back to mental illness.

not as annoying as everyone calling the movie horror……
It was a psychological thriller about a woman with head problems.

You’re annoying

Let’s be fair now. That’s only one interpretation of the movie. Like most things, it’s completely open to many interpretations and there is no definitively right answer. When it comes to The Babadook, possible interpretations include that it was entirely in her head, that there really was some kind of monster, or maybe she was both mentally ill AND there really was a monster. Perhaps one that is attracted to such human suffering? And that just scratches the surface of different ideas I’m sure.

As far as the label “Horror” in terms of film genre, I’ve tried to address this here:

https://halloweenlove.com/horror-the-film-genre-explained/

there was no demonic entity what the HELL are you talking about? she was just mentally sick lol
are you telling me you saw this movie and actually thought the creature was real? WTF are you Serious???????

Babadook is a horror film, you’ll find it under horror everywhere you look. A demonic entity tormenting a single mother and her only child. Can’t understand why my comments get shot back with “that’s not even horror” what the hell is then? Some dude pulled the same thing while I was praising the human centipede movies. Doesn’t make sense.

This is something that I am in total agreement with you on. While I have seen a few cool found footage flicks, typically they aren’t all that great.

An yes, NO BABADOOK CLONES!

Oh yes, of course I forgot about the Black and white original. I stand corrected.

I pretty fully agree with all of that. Thanks for your thoughts.