Babadook declared queer icon in 2017... because the internet is awesome!
In 2014, a fascinating horror film, directed by Jennifer Kent, was released. The Babadook's story, on the face of it, seemed to be a run-of-the-mill tale of a boy and his mother haunted by a monster. Except, that would barely scratch the surface.
The Babadook's complexity lay in the mother's association with the monster. It appeared to be a dark part of her mind, a female mind, often associated with postpartum depression in articles which discussed the film. And even in its dark, hysterical appearance, Babadook was never a bulky, masculine monster.
Babadook, thus, could very well be understood as a queer monster, trying to quite literally come out of the closet. And suddenly, the internet has noticed this.
While rumours of Babadook being queer have been floated about before, Netflix sealed the deal by putting the film under the LGBT section. Whether this was intentional or not is immaterial, because it essentially made internet history.
Besides, Netflix played it totally cool by posting this.
Now, the celebrated queer icon for #Pride2017, Babadook is enjoying his/her moment in the sun.
Here's what people on social media have been saying:
On Reddit
Levi-Avatar
Babadook be Babadank. Just look at that fabulous hat!
that_spacegoat
Babadook is the reason homophobia is a fear
loza98Never sleep again
When I first saw the post on Tumblr, I was babashook
NOLAHorror
Lesbian Gay Babadook Transgender
The whole LGBT being a short for Lesbian Gay Babadook Transgender has really amused people. One Twitter user even said that she was amazed to learn that she's been a Babadook all along.
Here's a tweet on bi erasure.
More from Twitter
Fabadook
#Pride2017
Babalove
Superdook
Britney who?
Oh so witchy
Babadook art
In conclusion, as thrilled we are at Babadook coming out of the closet, it's important to remember how the world is yet to accept diverse sexualities. In that respect, Babadook is the monster we need, but do we really deserve him/her?