Babadook film review Analysis

1. The layoutof the online reviewissimple,
informative andaestheticallypleasing.The
top of the page havinga bar helpingreaders
to navigate the empire websitemakingit
convenientandeasytofindoutaboutfilms,
interviews,reviewsandall the magazine
has to offer.Thisnavigationbarisdarkgrey
witha boldtitle onthe top rightcorner,
nextto the title istrendinginformationon
the website,thisisagoodplace as it the
firstthingreaderssee andisthe
informationtheymaybe interestedin.The
review itself startswiththe title of the film
and a star rating nexttothisa information
box on the rightexplainingthe rating
systemwhichishelpful aswithastar rating
or out of ten systemof ratingthe numbers
or stars can be interpretedindifferentways
but thiswayit ismade clear.
A bar inlightyellow showsvarioussocial
networksandforumsencouragingpeople
to share and commentonthe reviewthisis
a good wayof gainingmore readersand
hearingthe reader’sviewsonthe film.
The firstparagraph givesa brief outlineof
the plotwhichis importantforthe reader
to know firstso that theyhave anideaof
the story andcan be toldwhat elementsof
the filmare effective andsuccessful.Alsoit
couldspark the interestof the readerif the
storyis appealingtothemornot.
The review itselfstarsunderneath itsown
subheadingandnexttothe firstparagraph
of the review adramaticpicture of the main
characters of the film, thispicture ismeant
to excite the readerandisrepresentative of
the genre of the filmbeinghorrorbecause
of the mothersholdonherchildand the
fact she looksdishevelledandcoveredin
blood.
The review isbrokenupintofive
paragraphswhichI believe isthe perfect
amountas it tellsthe readerenoughabout
the filmandcommentsondifferent
featuresof the filmwithoutspoilingtoo
much.Anotherpositive aspectof the layout
of the review isatthe bottomof the
webpage there isashort paragraphtitled
‘verdict’thisisa goodway to wrapup the
overall consensusof the filmbeing
reviewed.Underneaththe verdictthe star
Empire Film review:The babadook- Layout analysis
Nexttothe firstparagrapha box at the side showcasesposterartforthe film
offeringtwodifferentposterstolookatthisis makingthe whole review more
full addingthisadditionalbackgroundinformationthatpeople will wantto
see,filmposters especiallycanbe a crucial sellingpointof the filmand
usuallysaya lotabout the representationof genre,narrative andsubject
matter.
The three boxesafterthe posterbox downthe lefthandside of the page
clearlydetail the filmdetailssuchasage certificate,cast,directors,
screenwritersandfilmlength.The nextbox showsthe latestfilmreviews
fromthe website whichisgoodinformationastheyare recentreleases.The
final box showsotherfilmswithfive starratings

2. Empire Film review:The babadook-Language analysis
The openingparagraphbegins
by sayingthatthe approachto
psychological horrorwhen
done isusuallyeffectivebutis
rarelytackledbecause of the
difficultchallengeof trying to
make a horror filmrelatable
withoutbeingextremely
cheesy,overthe topor merely
uninteresting.
Straightaway a reference is
made to the directoraboutthe
filmbeingherfirstfeature
whichsuggestinexperiencein
the industry.
The paragraph finishes
by endingwith
‘disruption’sayingthis
problemof the child
becomesseriousforhim
and hisparents.Thisis
still givingaplotdetails
ina synopsiswaytohelp
the readerunderstand
the conflictinthe film
and furtheremphasize
how that is relatable
that thisisa legitimate
problemof children
havingnightmaresand
believinginmonsters.
The reviewiseffective because itstateswhat’sgood
aboutthe film(it’sthe relatable) andthengives
evidence of thatsayingthatits basedarounda child
who’safraidof the bogeyman. Thisisgood because
not onlyisittrue itmakesthe readerthinkand addsa
personal elementtothe filmandthe review explaining
the filmspremise andstory.
The firstline of the secondparagraph praisesthe actingtalentof the childactor inthisfilm, if I wasreadingthisitwould
standout to me as a majorstrong pointof the filmas itis usuallydifficulttofindwell performingchildactors. The reviewer
describesthe characterof the motheras ‘worndown’suggestingshe ishavingtrouble withherchild’smonsterissuesasa
readerwe can assume there isa lot of tensionandthe motheristryinghard to solve thisproblemanditscausinghera l ot
of stress.The reviewerusesbracketstoshowthe graphicelementsandsexual themesof the filmthismaybe
uncomfortable forsome viewers. The reviewerexplainshow the widowedmotherbecame awidow andthe extreme
trauma theymusthave gainedfromthe situation,thisinformationisagoodthingto know goingintothe filmasan
audience memberyouwill understandherdepressionanditwill have more of anemotional impactasyoucan respectthe
weightof the situation,althoughthisinformationdoesn’truinanyplotpointsitonlyincreasesthe viewingexperience.
‘relentless’connotesasthe kidmissbehavingashe won’tstophisbeliefsaboutmonstersregardlessof hismother’sbest
efforts.The review explainshowthe filmexploresAmelia’stroubleswhichare beingprojectedasthe babadookandthen
comparesthispremise toexistinghorrorfilmssuchasAmityvilehorrorandthe shining,bothwell popularhorrorclassics.

3. Continuingcomparisonthe reviewercomparesthe antagonistof the filmtoothermodern horrormonstersbutthensays
it hasa strongercharacter basismeaningithasmore of a presence the meaningbehindthe monsteraddsthe
psychological element.The reviewermakesitclearthatthe antagonisthasthe fear factorsayingthat youwill remember
it whenyouwake upinthe middle of the night,andthatpraise I believe isthe bestyoucangive a horror filmasit didits
jobof gettingunderyourskinandleavingyouquestioningitlongafteryoufinishingwatchingthe film.
We are informedthe monsterisreal butwe as an audience are leftquestioningitsqualitiesthroughoutthe film,thisisa
goodpointto put inthe reviewasit tellsthe reader the horrorhas a constantfeelingof suspense whichissocrucial when
creatinga successful psychological horror.
Rule of three describingthe bookitself ismetaphorical ashow can a bookbe vicious,butthe descriptionisdisturbing
because thisbookhassuch an impacton these people’slivesyetabookismeantfor entertainment.
Describingthe logoof the bookas ‘cute’isfittingasthe bookisclearlyintendedtobe achildren’sbookwhichiseven
more surprisingasyouthinka children’sbookwouldbe more tame.
There ismore descriptionof the antagonistsaying thatit‘manifestsitself invariousforms’whichisascary feature to
have as a monsterbecause youcan’t recognise it,itspresence isunknown, thisiswell putbythe writerof the review
whencomparingthe monstertoa mix of well-knowncharacterscombined.