From there, it stalks Amelia and Sam before finally possessing Amelia herself. Sam is troubled by an imaginary creature, the titular Babadook, who eventually enters the family’s home. The film tells the story of Amelia Vanek, a stressed-out widow trying to raise her temperamental young son Sam after the death of her husband, Oskar. It eschewed cheap jump scares and machete-wielding serial killers, instead unnerving audiences with a more realistic terror that hit much closer to home. Caligari and The Amityville Horror – was a refreshing entry into the genre. Australian director Jennifer Kent’s debut feature – a psychological horror story that is equal parts The Cabinet of Dr. When it premiered in 2014, The Babadook already seemed destined to become a quiet cult classic.