By now, the buzz surrounding The Babadook is enough to start peppering expectations of the film which is in limited release and available on various VOD platforms. Instead of creating a film that seeks to scare and torment, first-time writer/director Jennifer Kent wants to explore mood and creating an experience. Sure, The Babadook has chills, but it’s the way it touches on reality that is more disturbing. The film follows a widowed mother and child that are threatened by an ethereal creature that invades their lives after reading a particularly disturbing children’s book.
Much of the film relies on the performances from six-year-old Noah Wiseman and veteran actress Essie Davis. I recently had a chance to speak to Kent about the film and we touched on everything from the sound design to the the production challenges of shooting with a child to the fact that Kent wanted to explore taboos. Check out the brief conversation below, including a holiday “treat.”
The Film Stage: Having much of the film rely on a six-year-old, it had to be hard to get that right. Can you talk about finding that balance and having these very powerful emotions?
Jennifer Kent: Absolutely. It was always on my mind. I knew that it would be difficult, but what we focused on was creating an environment for him that was loving. We didn’t want to scare him just to scare him. His mother was on set a lot. So we had moments where we had to get emotional and we talked through that.
I think it’s interesting to create a child, who is also a main character, who isn’t the most likable person.
Well, a lot of that reaction has actually come from the American screenings.
Whoa!
Yeah. I don’t know what that says about you.
[Laughs] Well, hopefully it’s not an indication of something underlying. Just the same, though, it’s very brave of you to make a character that people might not enjoy.
Right. But that’s all part of the story. I’m going for something real and kids can have that effect. This is taboo. Parenting is supposed to be this perfect thing and it rarely goes as smoothly as it is portrayed in fiction.
I’m curious about the sound that the Babadook makes, this screech. I’ve heard some say it sounds like a stock sound effect from their memory. I feel like I’ve heard it before as well. Can you talk about what went into creating it?
Well, it’s curious that anyone heard it before because we generated all the sounds ourselves.
Really?
Yeah.
Well, what was the development process of that?
Well, it’s like a magician giving away its tricks.
[Laughs]
It’s a very intimate and ongoing personal process. The sound design. It kind of spoils the fun, I think, if we go into how everything was produced.
That’s totally fine. I’m actually glad you brought up the magician aspect because that definitely plays into the story. Especially with clips of Georges Méliès and such. One of the things I really enjoyed was how the Babadook is involved in a few clips of TV that she is watching.
Well, the background clips existed but we made them with the Babadook, yeah.
Did you shoot that yourself or did someone else create them?
Well, we didn’t have a second unit, so I had to do them all myself.
I’ve read a few interviews and you’ve mentioned you don’t want anything to do with a sequel.
Yeah.
You didn’t want a lot of merchandise and such as well.
That’s right.
But you are in the process of producing the book itself, right?
Yeah. I’m writing a book.
Great to hear. Not a lot of reviews I’ve read have touched on the key point of sleep deprivation.
Right.
I love the fact that you weave that throughout the film because you’ve mentioned in several interviews that you want this to be a film that people can relate to. Perhaps not specifically in terms of what Essie’s character is going through, but certainly the general feeling. I think sleep deprivation is a huge part because in my own experience you act odd, you’re hazy, and grouchy.
Well I think sleep deprivation is part of a bigger issue for her. It’s part of the denial of everything that’s going on. So, yeah, it’s definitely a big part of her experience. It’s causing her mind to shift. It’s definitely an important part of her grip coming unstuck.
Well, I’ve got to say thank you again for creating this film. It’s refreshing in this day and age. You didn’t go down the jump scare route and you manage to teeter between a lot of themes quite well.
Thank you.
I love that you seem to be after more than just scaring people but instead giving them an experience.
Yeah, it’s her story and that’s what I was always focused on.
The Babadook is now available on VOD and expanding in theaters.