Latest news with #JenniferKent
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
'Best horror film' fans have ever seen now streaming on Netflix
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Boasting an impressive 98 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, The Babadook is a 2014 indie psychological horror film that has garnered a cult following since its debut. The film, based on Jennifer Kent's 2005 short film Monster, was both penned and directed by Kent, marking her first foray into feature-length directing. The cast includes young Noah Wiseman as Samuel Vanek and Essie Davis delivering a compelling performance as Amelia Vanek, with Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear rounding out the top-notch ensemble. Currently available on Netflix, The Babadook tells the chilling tale of a widowed single mum, Essie, who, along with her son Sam, grapples with a sinister humanoid monster in their home that simply won't leave. Kent reportedly began crafting the screenplay in 2009, aiming to delve into themes of grief, parenting, and the terror of insanity. Funding for the film was sourced from Australian government grants and partially through crowdfunding. The shoot took place in Adelaide, where the crew made sure to protect six year old Wiseman from the film's eerie undertones, reports the Daily Record. (Image: PA) The eponymous monster and special effects were reportedly realised using stop-motion animation and practical effects. The film smashed the global box office, pocketing an impressive $10 million against a modest $2 million budget. Despite its worldwide success, The Babadook received a lukewarm response in Australia, managing a mere $258,000. It initially charmed audiences at its Sundance Film Festival debut in January 2014. Film buffs were utterly taken by "The Babadook," with one critic hailing it as: "One of the strongest, most effective horror films of recent years - with awards-quality lead work from Essie Davis, and a brilliantly designed new monster who could well become the break-out spook archetype of the decade." While accolades poured in with another critic branding it "one of the smartest and most effective horror films in years", yet another praised: "This psychological thriller from gifted first-time filmmaker Jennifer Kent will have you climbing the walls simply by plumbing the violence of the mind. Brace yourself." (Image: FREE FILM STILL / FREE TO USE) Praise wasn't in short supply, with one saying: "Let a law be passed, requiring all horror films to be made by female directors." Another added: "Manages to deliver real, seat-grabbing jolts while also touching on more serious themes of loss, grief and other demons that can not be so easily vanquished." Cinema-goers echoed critics' sentiments, with one praising: "Excellent, suspenseful movie with incredible acting, especially from the child actor. This movie, at 10 years old already, will be a classic. The Rotten Tomato score is SPOT ON with 98%!". One viewer was thoroughly impressed, writing: "This is definitely one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. Not only was it terrifying, but it really made me care about the characters. I highly recommend it for horror fans!". Another enthusiast couldn't contain their enthusiasm, writing in all caps: "ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT MOVIES I'VE EVER SEEN! This film was no joke! Although no jump scares, this movie has proven that you don't need cheep jump scares and gore to make a proper horror film. The performances of the two characters and the atmosphere of everything is what made this movie truly terrifying in it's own ways. One other thing to mention is the emotional story that grabs you from start to finish. The Babadook is a unique work of cinema unlike anything you've ever seen! What a masterpiece!". Meanwhile, another viewer admitted a change of heart: "I made fun of this movie when I first watched it. Until it was late at night and I was trying to fall I ate my words."
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Netflix horror with near perfect rating 'so terrifying it taps into everyone's deepest fears'
This 2014 psychological horror film with a 98 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes has become a cult classic With a near-perfect 98 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Babadook is a 2014 indie psychological horror film that has achieved cult classic status in the years since its release. Based on Jennifer Kent's 2005 short film Monster, The Babadook is written and directed by Kent and marks her feature directorial debut. Starring the young Noah Wiseman as Samuel Vanek and Essie Davis in a powerful performance as Amelia Vanek, the actors are supported by Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear, completing a stellar ensemble cast. Currently streaming on Netflix, The Babadook is the story of a widowed single mother, Essie, who along with her son Sam, finds herself confronting a mysterious human-like monster in their home that refuses to go away. It's reported that Kent began writing the film's screenplay back in 2009 with intentions of exploring the themes of grief, parenting, and the fear of madness. Financing for the film came from Australian government grants and partially through crowdfunding. Filming took place in Adelaide, where the production team took care to shield Wiseman — who was six at the time — from the movie's unsettling themes. The titular monster and special effects were reportedly brought to life using stop-motion animation and practical effects. The movie proved to be a success at the global box office, grossing $10 million against its budget of $2 million. Surprisingly, The Babadook didn't do well in its home country of Australia, grossing only a dismal $258,000. The movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2014. Critics were left floored by the film, with one saying it was: 'One of the strongest, most effective horror films of recent years - with awards-quality lead work from Essie Davis, and a brilliantly designed new monster who could well become the break-out spook archetype of the decade.' While one critic said it's 'one of the smartest and most effective horror films in years', another wrote: 'This psychological thriller from gifted first-time filmmaker Jennifer Kent will have you climbing the walls simply by plumbing the violence of the mind. Brace yourself.' Another reviewer lauded the film's director and said: 'Let a law be passed, requiring all horror films to be made by female directors.' Yet another critical review of the film says: 'Manages to deliver real, seat-grabbing jolts while also touching on more serious themes of loss, grief and other demons that can not be so easily vanquished.' Audience reviews for The Babadook follow in the same theme, with one viewer commenting: 'Excellent, suspenseful movie with incredible acting, especially from the child actor. This movie, at 10 years old already, will be a classic. The Rotten Tomato score is SPOT ON with 98%!' While one viewer wrote: 'This is definitely one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. Not only was it terrifying, but it really made me care about the characters. I highly recommend it for horror fans!' Another commented in caps lock excitement: "ONE OF THE MOST PERFECT MOVIES I'VE EVER SEEN! This film was no joke! Although no jump scares, this movie has proven that you don't need cheep jump scares and gore to make a proper horror film. The performances of the two characters and the atmosphere of everything is what made this movie truly terrifying in it's own ways. One other thing to mention is the emotional story that grabs you from start to finish. The Babadook is a unique work of cinema unlike anything you've ever seen! What a masterpiece!" And one viewer simply said: 'I made fun of this movie when I first watched it. Until it was late at night and I was trying to fall I ate my words.'
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Proposed law to reduce speed limit to 30kmh
The speed limit on roads around Australian schools has become an issue for some. Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than 1km to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30kmh would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50kmh, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30kmh, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30kmh. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30kmh limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 kmh caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date.
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Would you drive 30km/h to reduce road deaths?
Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than one kilometre to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30km/h would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50 km/h, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30 km/h, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30 kilometres an hour. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30km/h limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 km/h caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date. Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than one kilometre to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30km/h would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50 km/h, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30 km/h, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30 kilometres an hour. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30km/h limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 km/h caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date. Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than one kilometre to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30km/h would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50 km/h, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30 km/h, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30 kilometres an hour. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30km/h limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 km/h caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date. Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than one kilometre to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30km/h would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50 km/h, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30 km/h, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30 kilometres an hour. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30km/h limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 km/h caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Would you drive 30km/h to reduce road deaths?
Unsafe roads are forcing parents to drive children less than one kilometre to school, say safety advocates pushing for lower speed limits. Restricting cars and trucks to 30km/h would be the norm for neighbourhood streets under proposed laws being unveiled on Wednesday. The change comes amid rising fatalities on Australian roads in the face of a national goal to eliminate all road deaths and serious injuries by 2050. While nine out of ten people die when hit by a vehicle driving at 50 km/h, nine in ten people survive when hit at 30 km/h, safety advocate Jennifer Kent says. Inner-city Melbourne and parts of suburban Sydney have adopted the lower limits but Dr Kent views the varied approaches across Australia as unfair for children, parents and the elderly. "Why should my son be safe walking to school but my cousin who lives in Brisbane is not?" the spokeswoman for advocacy group 30 Please told AAP. "It's not fair that some people's lives are more important than others, so why wouldn't we do this on a national scale." Kobi Shetty lives in an inner Sydney area where the speed limit is more than 30 kilometres an hour. "I see a lot of neighbours who live near me drive their kids to school less than a kilometre," she told AAP. "They drive their kids to school because they don't feel safe letting them walk or cycle." That perspective has helped push the NSW Greens MP to introduce a bill to enact a statewide 30km/h limit on residential roads. She says it's the "most impactful" way to protect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians from road accidents as drivers will be forced to travel slower in high traffic areas. If adopted, NSW would follow Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK in lowering limits to such levels. In those areas, communities have seen a 40-per-cent reduction in fatalities on roads that have these limits, Ms Shetty said. The cost to motorists was meanwhile between 30 seconds to one minute for each journey, research suggested. "Most people would understand that it's worth spending an extra 30 seconds sitting in a car and saving a life," Ms Shetty said. Premier Chris Minns however doubled down on opposition to 30 km/h caps first aired in 2024. "I think that's too slow," he told reporters on Wednesday Ms Shetty's bill will be debated at a later date.
