You make some interesting and intelligent points, Whatlarks. Still, in any movie the death of a beloved pet ruins it for me personally. I'm not asking others to feel the same way I do. I'm warning others who already do feel that way so they can avoid this film. Also, I simply think the film is poorly made as a whole, the ending was particularly silly.
And there are many well made old horror films that don't use the death of animals to add to the scares. Those that did make reference to killed animals, like the one's you pointed out, did not usually show those deaths in the same "in your face" manner films like this do. The same can be said of human deaths in many current horror films, in the classic older ones, a person killed or screaming in the distance was horror enough usually, now we have to see them die in close detail complete with all the gore and blood involved. I guess that's a subject for a different discussion.
I feel killing pets, who are loved family members in the film, is a cheap overly used way to get the scares from modern audiences. Yes, it may have been done in the past at times, those were the standout exceptions not the rule. Now it seems it's required anytime a pet is introduced in a horror film we know they're doomed. Just like we know when a woman is taking a shower she's probably going to go out like Janet Leigh. Once or twice it was shocking, now it's an over used cheap device.
Thank you again for an intelligent reply even if I do disagree.
reply
share
Whatlarks
8 years ago
I respect your experience of a film being ruined for that reason, and I think your warning is valuable to those who share that sensitivity. I draw my own kind of lines in the sand. Different ones, but probably no less stringent.
I go by a case-by-case basis. Many films don't use X quality to create Y effect, but that doesn't mean using X is necessarily wrong (cheap) for the films that do. And we can't discount the influence of our general sensitivity to X on our estimation of its value to a film. It can be challenging to distinguish personal distaste of X in general, from truly poor use of the quality in specific cases.
"You must not judge what I know by what I find words for." - Marilynne Robinson
reply
share
mmsexybetty
8 years ago
I'm with you, Mikel3. I know that it isn't real, but I get angry when people are cruel to animals or kids for that matter, just to get a point across of how 'out of control' they have become. Regardless behind the reasoning, I never find it necessary to show things like that. However, I thought the movie was good otherwise. I liked the fact that it wasn't your typical jump scare or cheap thrill movie. They didn't add gore just to try and shock the audience. Those things are very cliche. People usually expect all the forementioned things to happen in a typical horror movie, and that's justifiable. But, this movie wasn't the typical horror flick. The Babadook is the symbolization of the mother's grief and anger at her husband's passing, and dealing with the stress of being a single mom and on top of that, trying to deal with her son's separate issues from her own. It was very well acted, and well executed with telling a story. It was a well thought out movie, with great symbolism and imagery that clearly shows what 'demons' the mother was dealing with in her own mind. I think we all have a little of that Babadook in us; some people can just contain it better than others. I did enjoy the movie for the most part; it was very thought provoking. However, I probably won't watch it again; the violent death of the dog is a deal breaker for me. No one has to agree with me, that's just how I feel.
reply
share
Mikel3
8 years ago
Thank you, mmsexybetty, for an intelligent well written expression of your opinion on the story. I didn't care for the film myself, but I respect your opinion which you presented well and fairly.
I'm glad others feel the same about the exceptionally cruel dog killing scene. I received a lot of flack and insults just for warning others who were like minded about pets being killed in films. The abuse of children is of course also very disturbing.
reply
share
trepessa
8 years ago
I'm an older adult who has watched numerous horror films over my life. I didn't get the same thing out of the movie even though I have watched it several times. Not even remotely. I wonder if any of you realize that The Babadook won the same as Best Motion picture at the Oscars? This movie is lauded for excellence. You don't get that for being subpar. I think most are over thinking the movie.
reply
share
Mikel3
8 years ago
Hi, Trepessa.
Yes, it has won awards and been nominated for many too...I would hardly compare any of them to winning an Oscar for best picture however as far as prestige. You made that comparison. Heck to take it a step further, even Oscars can be won by films I don't think are great movies personally. We all have our own opinions on what is good or bad in film making. If you like the movie you're certainly entitled to your opinion just as I am to mine. My warning to animal lovers like me and those who don't like seeing children abused, still stands. It's not a matter of "over thinking the movie" it's a matter of the scenes in question that are simply there on the screen no reading into them needed. Those who don't feel the same as me can simply ignore my warning. I have been a fan of horror films myself since the early 1960s and I know what I like. I don't like this movie.
Thank you for sharing your opinion without making insults as others have. Have a great day.
reply
share