The Babadook Semiotic Analysis

• Media Language/Mise en Scene
  
  
  • Eerie music combined with something normal to make it intriguing and suspicious 
  • Dark filter to create disturbing atmosphere- typical of horror movies
  • "Where did you get this"- shows the mother didn't know of the book- makes the audience doubtful and nervous
  • Looking under bed- typical of horror film
  • Innocent child victim- creates sympathy for the audience- being scared of monsters is common for children
  • On the other hand he is creating weapons to fight the monster- which is a counter type 
  • 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
  • Darkness- fear of the unknown- the 'babadook' is never seen, but the door movements make the audience know he is there
  • Policeman- symbol of protection and safety
  • The film has managed to connote a simple 'three sharp knocks' with the villain- this means it is very effective to use these knocks to indicate that something bad is happening
  • Cockroaches coming out of crack in wall- strange- adds to atmosphere
  • Sympathy is created with the mother as she is perceived as crazy by others
  • Grieving- the theme of death is prominent throughout the trailer due to the death of the father
  • 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 
  • Dark clouds coming over the house after the 'three sharp knocks'- used to reinforce the idea that something bad is going to happen
  • Hovering over bed- adds to supernatural vibe, 
  • Robotic voice saying "bring me the boy" repeatedly- builds tension and confirms to the audience the babadook is there
  • Mother holds knife- this was hinted at originally in the book- opposite of caring mother stereotype
  Narrative
  • A widow who's husband died on the same day as the birth of her troubled son's birth works looking after the elderly and struggles to maintain a strong relationship with her child
  • The boy dreams of a monster he believes is coming to kill both him and his mother- he builds weapons to fight it
  • He discovers a strange book on the shelf and is read it by his mother, the book is very sinister and ends with the phrase "you can't get rid of the babadook"
  • Odd things begin to happen like doors closing and the mother, Amelia, finds glass in her food
  • The son, Sam,struggles to sleep and is convinced the 'babadook' is there, leading to the mother trying to persuade the doctor to prescribe her sleeping medication 
  • Suddenly the Babadook begins to terrorize the family, before eventually possessing the mother, causing her to snap the neck of the family dog
  • Amelia stands up the monster- he eventually collapses to the ground in defeat, then flies out the bedroom and locks itself in the basement

  

  Institution
  • Entertainment One, Screen Australia and Causeway Films
  • In association with 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 
  • There are many elements of the film which would push it in the direction of a horror film- the main aspect being the fact there is a supernatural villain. Furthermore there is gore throughout the film, also there are knives and other weapons.
  • There are also elements which would suggest the film is a mystery or perhaps an action film. For example the mother must figure out who this 'babadook' character is- on her path there is lots of violence and fighting (such as the murder of the family dog)

  Representation
  • Woman- mostly seen as fragile, weak and the victim. Towards the end shown as violent and crazed when the mother is possessed
  • Males- shown as wealthy, smart and professional- doctor, school psychiatrist and co-worker
  • 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 a countertype- this 'brave' mindset isn't dominant though, we see him on the floor, crying, repeating "dont let him in!"
  Ideologies/Media Values
  
  • The mother is shown as a protector which is to a low degree a counter-type as predominately men are the protectors. On the other hand, the Babadook is a huge threat, and she is shown more of a failed protector than a heroic protector for the most part.
  • The child is represented very negatively- he has 'significant behavioral problems', has nightmares and is shown to be a hiderence to the mother's happiness- he is also shown to be physically scared throughout the trailer- implying that he is weak mentally as well as physically. 
  • The elderly are shown as knowledgeable- in the trailer the old lady is used a narrative tool to make the child's worries seem true- by doing this, then having the babadook's existence proven, it shows the elderly are intelligent

  Audience
  • Primarily for young adults or teenagers- too violent and scary for children
  • Females tend to prefer horror films more than males, however the action elements appeal more to men
  • appeals to a typical horror audience
  • Suitable for any group in society other than children- simple and easy to understand concept- class is irrelevant but it wouldn't be deemed as something 'intelligent' to watch- just for fun