The Babadook

Media Language/Mise en Scene;

§  Dark & sinister music combined with a lighter tone at the beginning of the trailer juxtaposes the ominous nature of the horror genre alongside the happiness symbolised by the equilibrium.

§  Use of a darker filter helps to create the disturbing and disconcerting atmosphere which we usually associate with the horror genre.

§  The mysterious discovery of the book makes the audience doubt themselves andputs them on edge as we wonder how it actually appeared.

§  The ‘monster under the bed’ classic horror film idea helps to identify with horror fans and reintroduce ‘old school horror’

§  The connotations of purity and innocence associated with the child create sympathy with audience, relates to common experiences all children have- being afraid of monsters.

§  The child in the trailer is a countertype to this representation however as he is shown to be creating his own weapons to fight the Babadook, contrasting the stereotypical view of children with this darker nature.

§  Lots of shots involve lots of zooming to focus the audience's attention and to add continuity

§  Constant flashing back to the book creates tension and continuity- juxtaposes the original connotations of a bedtime story (happiness, safety, relaxation) with the horrific events that follow.

§  The Darkness in the trailer creates a fear of the unknown- the 'Babadook' is never seen, but the door movement’s let the audience know it is there.

§  Policeman- symbolises protection and safety on a human level.

§  The “knock-knock-knock” to symbolise the presence of the Babadook, lets us know something bad is going to happen.

§  Cockroaches’ coming out of crack in wall, associated with the dead, fits in with the codes and conventions of the horror genre.

§  Grieving- the theme of death is prominent throughout the trailer due to the death of the father, helps to drive home the horrific effects of the horror genre.

§  Old lady "he sees things as they are"- the elderly are stereo-typically wise, in horror films they are often used as a narrative tool to push the plot forward- here she is promoting the idea that the Babadook is real and that the child is more knowledgeable than the adults.

§  The appearance of black clouds over the house reinforces the suspense and tension as we know something bad is going to happen.

                                                                                                                                                     

Narrative;

o   The narrative is based around a widow whose husband died on the same day her son was born; she struggles to maintain a strong relationship with her child and feels she is not doing her job as a mum properly.

o   Her son begins to have dreams about a monster who plans to kill them both, he constructs weapons to defend himself against it and his fragile mother.

o   The trailer begins with the child discovering a book called “Mr Babadook”, strange occurrences begin to happen and the story begins.

Institution;

·         Produced by Entertainment One, Screen Australia and Causeway Films.

·         Alongside; South Australian Film Corporation and Smoking Gun Productions.

·         Written and directed by Jennifer Kent.

·         Distributed by Cinetic Movies, eOne Films International and IFC Films.

Genre;

      The trailer has elements of more than 1 genre;

1)      Horror- dark, sinister location, the hauntings, the melancholic musical accompaniment and the murkier and shocking scenes shown in the trailer. Appeals to fans of traditional horror as it delivers the tension and terror they crave.

2)      Mystery- The mother must figure out the true character of the Babadook and find out whether or not it truly exists or is just a figment of her imagination. This would intrigue the audience as they would also want to find out what the Babadook looks like etc.

3)      Action- The crafting of weapons, fight scenes; the mother hunting down her child, the battles with the Babadook.  Action appeals to all target audiences as it keeps them entertained and adds to the drama and tension.

Representation;

1)      Women- seen as fragile, weak and the victim (mother is possessed by the Babadook)  Towards the end shown as violent and crazed when the mother is possessed and hunts down her son, however she is shown to be courageous when she finally confronts the Babadook.

2)      Males- shown as wealthy, smart and professional- doctor, school psychiatrist and co-worker, know what they are doing. However they are shown as ignorant as they do not know about the Babadook and do not believe in ‘spooks’

3)      Children- shown as misunderstood, also as the victim- the child is clearly also weak and vulnerable- however he builds weapons to fight the Babadook which is breaking the stereotype usually associated with children. Overall shown in the traditional way.

Ideologies/Media Values;

v  During the trailer the mother is shown as the protector (cradling her son, reading him stories, caring about his education) which breaks the traditional stereotype of a nuclear family, she is having to manage without her husband and take over the roles traditionally associated with the male sex. However her failure to defend herself against the Babadook hails her as more of a failed protector.

v  The child is represented very negatively- he has 'significant behavioural problems', has nightmares and is seen to be destroying both his mother’s sanity and her happiness. He is shown as weak and ‘clingy’ to his mother throughout the trailer and is portrayed as having to rely on others to get by.

v  The elderly are shown as knowledgeable, wise, kind and caring, the old woman in the trailer is portrayed as kind and innocent as she offers her help to the family and looks after the child for the mother.

Audience;

§  Primarily for people over 18, the dark theme and the horror shown in the trailer are targeting a more mature audience and true fans of the horror genre.

§  Suitable for any group in society other than children as they should not be exposed to scenes that are shown within the trailer.