Watch ‘Monster’: The Short That Inspired ‘The Babadook’

Jennifer Kent‘s throwback horror masterpiece The Babadook is being revered not only as one of the year’s best films but one of the best horror movies in decades. Now, you can watch “Monster,” Kent’s black-and-white short that inspired her feature-length debut on Vimeo.

Both films tell the story of a single mom and her troubled son, Samuel, who begins to sense a presence in their home. “Monster,” while true to its extended version in tone and theme, has its own unique flare and scares. Innocently enough, the monster that terrorizes mother and child in their home comes to them through a stuffed animal, just like Mr. Babadook comes into their lives through Samuel’s pop-up bedtime story. Unlike the feature, “Monster” is in black and white, which makes Kent’s direction feel even more tense and very The Cabinet of Dr. of Caligari-esque.

Check it out for yourself below, and see where you can stream The Babadook, now available on VOD.

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