THE BABADOOK IS HERE...2014 is saved!

"It's just a book."

For fans of mainstream horror, there's little doubt that 2014 has been somewhat disappointing. There have been several high profile cinematic releases, some even much ballyhooed (Annabelle, Deliver Us From Evil, The Purge: Anarchy), but even though there is at least something to like about those flicks, there hasn't been that slam dunk mainstream movie that made everyone sit up and say, "Wow...that was THE horror movie of the year!"

And that's ok...because indie horror has given us a SLEW of fantastic goodies. Both Bigfoot flicks: Bobcat Goldthwait's tense but witty Willow Creek and Eduardo Sanchez's creature feature Exists, Kevin Greutert's promising ghosty Jessabelle, and the jaw-droppingly awesome horror-comedy Housebound leap immediately to mind, among others.

On November 28th in the U.S., Australian director Jennifer Kent's brilliant and super spooky The Babadook creeps it's way into our collective consciousness, looking to take it's place among the top horror films of the year.

And guess what? It really delivers the good stuff.

Aside from Essie Davis' amazing, Oscar worthy performance (yep, I said it) as a mother on the edge of madness, The Babadook unleashes some of the most haunting imagery we've seen in quite some time and one ups the pretenders with a heapin' helpin' of nail biting suspense. Quite simply, this movie is original, smart, scary and just plain ol' awesome.

See for yourself on November 28th. Then run back here and let me know how right I was.

                                                                                        - Paul Counelis