Will We Ever Get The Babadook 2?
Spoilers for "The Babadook" to follow.
In 2014, writer-director Jennifer Kent established herself as a fresh an exciting new voice with the mystery horror drama "The Babadook," the story of overwhelmed mother Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis) and her erratic son Samuel (Noah Wiseman). When a strange book called "Mister Babadook" appears in their home, strange and frightening things start to happen. But "The Babadook" isn't just a cut-and-dry horror movie; its underlying themes are much more personal than the jumpscare-laden fare that has made up so much of the genre in recent memory.
The title monster represents grief, depression, and acceptance, and the surprise success of such a thoughtful horror film opened the door for other indie hits like "Hereditary" and "Midsommar," spawning a new generation of thought-provoking chillers. Since "The Babadook" has become such a hit (and even an LGBTQ icon), fans are probably wondering if there'll ever be a sequel. Here's what we know about the potential for "The Babadook 2."
A Bababook sequel is off the table
Sequels are as much a part of horror as any other genre, so when Jim Vejvoda of IGN sat down with Jennifer Kent, the question of a "Babadook" sequel inevitably came up. Specifically, Vejvoda asked Kent if she was afraid that the stand-alone gem would become diminished by a "sequel factory," and if she'd have control over an outside source making another movie. Fortunately, Kent confirmed that she and the producers own the rights to any sequels, so they'd have the ultimate say. On that note, she took the opportunity to shut down any speculation — we shouldn't expect "The Babadook 2." As she explained, "The reason for that is I will never allow any sequel to be made because it's not that kind of film."
It seems like Kent always knew "The Babadook" wouldn't have a sequel, and for good reason. She went on to say, "It's just not what the film's about. It would destroy the integrity of everything we worked so hard to protect." That makes sense, as the film's focus is specifically on the trauma of Emilia and Samuel, a story that's now been told. A sequel would dull the underlining meaning of the movie.
Sometimes, a movie with a purpose like "The Babadook" is fine standing on its own.