10 Horror Movie Scenes Worse Than Death

9. Babadook In The Bedroom - The Babadook (2014)

Veronica Movie
Umbrella Entertainment

A critical darling written and directed by Jennifer Kent, Aussie horror The Babadook follows grieving mother Amelia (Essie Davis) and her troubled son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) as they become tormented by a shadowy figure from a sinister storybook.

The film's uneasy atmosphere tightens its grip as the monster continues to make its presence known, and its menacing behaviour intensifies until it attacks Amelia in her bedroom in one of the picture's most unforgettable scenes.

As an exhausted Amelia tries to settle down for the night, she’s woken by a scraping sound at her bedroom door. The door slowly opens and an unseen figure slips into the darkness, causing Amelia to retreat under her bedsheets for safety. With the camera kept close to her face, the monster’s rasping cries ramp up the tension to heart-pounding heights as she and audiences wait for it to strike.

The suspense is only raised further when Amelia peeks out from her sheets to reveal the intruder scuttling across the ceiling. Without any jump scares, it turns towards her with unnaturally jerky movements before leaping at her.

Despite being onscreen for only a few moments, the Babadook has become one of the most iconic movie monsters in recent years.

Contributor
Contributor

Glasgow-based cinephile who earned a Master's degree in film studies to spend their time writing about cinema, video games, and horror.