The Babadook
Amelia, who lost her husband in a car crash on the way to give birth to Samuel, their only child, struggles to cope with her fate as a single mom. Samuel's constant fear of monsters and violent reaction to overcome the fear doesn't help her cause either, which makes her friends become distant. When things can not get any worse, they read a strange book in their house about the 'Babadook' monster that hides in the dark areas of their house. Even Amelia seems to feel the effect of Babadook and desperately tries in vain to destroy the book. The nightmarish experiences the two encounter form the rest of the story.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.0M, The Babadook became a financial success, earning $10.3M worldwide—a 415% return. The film's unique voice resonated with audiences, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
56 wins & 64 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Babadook (2014) exhibits strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Jennifer Kent's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 13-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Amelia wakes from a nightmare of her husband's death in the car crash seven years ago. She lives exhausted, isolated, working at a nursing home while raising her troubled son Samuel alone.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Samuel pulls a mysterious red book "Mister Babadook" from the shelf at bedtime. The sinister pop-up book depicts a monster that "won't leave once you let it in," planting terror in both their minds.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Amelia discovers the Babadook book has reappeared on her doorstep, now containing graphic pop-ups depicting her killing Samuel and the dog. She can no longer deny the presence invading their home and psyche., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Amelia is fully possessed by the Babadook, attacking Samuel with a knife while screaming that she wishes he'd never been born. The stakes are raised: she may actually kill her own child., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Amelia corners Samuel in the basement, choking him. She is moments away from killing her son—the ultimate death of love and motherhood, the complete victory of the monster born from grief., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Amelia forcefully expels the Babadook into the basement, asserting her maternal strength. She and Samuel recover together. Time passes. They function as a healthier family unit, though the trauma remains contained below., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Babadook's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 13 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Babadook against these established plot points, we can identify how Jennifer Kent utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Babadook within the drama genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Amelia wakes from a nightmare of her husband's death in the car crash seven years ago. She lives exhausted, isolated, working at a nursing home while raising her troubled son Samuel alone.
Theme
Samuel's teacher says "You can't bring in weapons," foreshadowing that denying darkness doesn't make it disappear. The theme: repressed trauma manifests as monsters we must face.
Worldbuilding
Amelia struggles with Samuel's behavioral issues and obsession with monster-hunting. She avoids discussing his father's death, works exhausted, and faces judgment from her sister and society. Samuel is expelled from school.
Disruption
Samuel pulls a mysterious red book "Mister Babadook" from the shelf at bedtime. The sinister pop-up book depicts a monster that "won't leave once you let it in," planting terror in both their minds.
Resistance
Amelia tries to suppress the Babadook by tearing up and burning the book, but it returns mysteriously. She seeks help from doctors and police who dismiss her. Samuel's terror intensifies as shadows and sounds invade their home.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Amelia discovers the Babadook book has reappeared on her doorstep, now containing graphic pop-ups depicting her killing Samuel and the dog. She can no longer deny the presence invading their home and psyche.
Mirror World
Amelia sees a vision of her husband in bed, promising comfort, but it transforms into the Babadook. Her grief and longing for her dead husband is the doorway through which the monster enters.
Premise
The Babadook increasingly possesses Amelia. She experiences hallucinations, becomes violent toward Samuel, kills the dog, and deteriorates physically. The monster exploits her repressed grief and resentment toward her son.
Midpoint
Amelia is fully possessed by the Babadook, attacking Samuel with a knife while screaming that she wishes he'd never been born. The stakes are raised: she may actually kill her own child.
Opposition
The possessed Amelia hunts Samuel through the house. He tries to defend himself and help his mother, but she grows more monstrous. Her rage and grief have fully manifested as an unstoppable force.
Collapse
Amelia corners Samuel in the basement, choking him. She is moments away from killing her son—the ultimate death of love and motherhood, the complete victory of the monster born from grief.
Crisis
Samuel tells his mother "I love you" even as she's choking him. This penetrates her possession. Amelia vomits the Babadook's black essence and collapses, processing what she nearly did.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Amelia forcefully expels the Babadook into the basement, asserting her maternal strength. She and Samuel recover together. Time passes. They function as a healthier family unit, though the trauma remains contained below.