The Babadook’s director reflects on the main monster’s status as an LGBTQ+ icon. The 2014psychological horror filmwas written and directed by Jennifer Kent. It starred Essie Davis as a woman named Amelia,a widowed single mother who becomes paranoid when an eerie children’s picture book called “Mister Babadook"randomly appears in her home.The Babadookalso features a leading cast including Noah Wiseman, Daniel Henshall, and Hayley McElhinney.
In an exclusive interview withScreen Rant, Kent reacted to the Babadook character becoming an LGBTQ+ icon. When asked to speak about the film and the character’s status as an LGBTQ+ icon, she explained the phenomenon, which started as a joke, and then “people just went with it.” The filmmaker personally saidshe “love[s] hearing drag queens talk about The Babadook.“She also feels like she has “made it” because her film is “still alive and being referenced in popular culture.” Check out the full quote from Kent below:
Maybe you can explain it to me [chuckles], but I think it started as a joke by being sort of miscategorized in Netflix, and then people just went with it. And I love it. I love hearing drag queens talking about The Babadook. It’s like, “I’ve made it!” I love that it’s still alive and being referenced in popular culture, there’s no greater compliment. He’s a bit theatrical, you know, who knows?
What The Babadook As An LGBTQ+ Icon Means
Netflix Leaned Into A Categorization Mistake.
Kent is largely correct in her understanding of howThe Babadook’s transformation into an LGBTQ+ icon came to be. In late 2016, roughly two years after the movie was initially released, users on social media discovered thatNetflix had categorized it under “LGBT Movies.“While this was a mistake on Netflix’s part, people found it humorous and started making memes about it. The rhetoric was so prevalent that Netflix even promoted the horror film during Pride Month in June 2017.
The Babadook Ending Explained: What The Monster Really Means
The Babadook is one of the deepest horror movies, and there are many layers to the meaning of Mister Babadook. Here’s The Babadook meaning explained.
From there, Mister Babadook became considered an LGBTQ+ icon. There are still memes circulating today of the character adorned with Pride flags and more. Even though it fully started as a joke, there are now even more analytical pieces that imagine a queer reading ofThe Babadook. Among fan culture, thelore about The Babadookas an LGBTQ+ icon goes deep, with some people even creating a scenario wherein the titular character is in a gay relationship withIt’s Pennywise.
The Babadook Deserves A Rewatch
You Will Have The Opportunity Soon.
LGBTQ+ icon or not,The Babadookis a fantastic psychological horror film that deserves a rewatch. I’m not alone in saying that I love this film;The Babadook’s reviewswere incredibly positive, getting a near-perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoeswith over 200 reviews. Luckily, audiences who missed itin theaters will get the chance to see it again, asThe Babadookwill return to AMC theaters soon for special 10th-anniversary screenings.
The Babadook
Cast
The Babadook, directed by Jennifer Kent, explores the struggles of a single mother grieving her husband’s death while confronting her son’s fear of a lurking monster. As they contend with this unseen entity, the sinister presence grows increasingly pervasive in their lives.
