The Babadook — Complete Film Analysis Unit

Teach Film Form • Visual Literacy • Analytical Writing • Horror as Metaphor

This three-week unit is a complete introduction to film analysis, visual literacy, and the analytical film essay — all anchored around Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook (2014), a visually rich and thematically layered horror film that offers exceptional opportunities for teaching symbolism, motif, sound, cinematography, thematic analysis, and more.

Designed for Grade 12, but suitable for 11th and continuing education classes, this unit helps students move from foundational film vocabulary to advanced analytical writing through a structured sequence of active viewing, guided practice, lecture notes, collaborative work, modeling, and scaffolded essay support.

If you’ve taught my Coraline Film Form Intro or used my Coraline Film Vocabulary Pack, this unit is a perfect next step.

What Students Will Learn

Students will build a strong foundation in visual literacy and film analysis as they learn to:

• Apply essential film form vocabulary (shot size, angles, composition, lighting, sound, editing)
• Analyze how filmmakers use motif, parallelism, variation, and unity
• Interpret color, framing, negative space, mise-en-scène, and performance choices
• Practice active viewing using structured notes for Act I, Act II, and Act III
• Use visual evidence (frames, scenes, cinematic techniques) to support analysis
• Draft, revise, and complete a formal film analysis essay
• Give and receive structured peer feedback
• Engage in meaningful discussion around metaphor, grief, and genre

What’s Included

This unit includes everything you need for 3 weeks of instruction:

Pre-Viewing

• Monster (Jennifer Kent short film) viewing notes & teacher guide
• Warm-ups + thematic activation

Active Viewing Materials

• Act I, Act II, Act III Viewing Notes (printable PDF & digital)
• Homework analysis assignments for each act (digital, ready to print)
• Film stills + slides for classroom annotation
• Act-by-act debrief and discussion questions

Film Analysis & Lecture

• Introduction to Film Form lecture slides
• Guided note taking sheet
• Visual motif & parallelism lesson
• Model shot analysis examples

Essay Writing Support

• Full Film Analysis Essay Assignment with differentiated rubrics
• Essay outline graphic organizers
• Evidence Appendix (supporting students in choosing strong visual evidence)
• Model essay excerpt with scaffolded style/technique/analysis questions for evaluation
• Peer review options (printable PDF + Google Docs)

Alternative Assessment

• Shot/Composition Analysis Assignment with differentiated rubrics
• Editable/assignable graphic organizer

Formats

• Editable Google Docs
• Printable PDFs
• Perfect for Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, or traditional paper-based teaching

Perfect For

• ELA classrooms (11th–12th grade; continuing ed)
• Film Studies electives
• Media Literacy units
• Genre studies (Horror, Psychological Thriller)
• Introduction to analytical writing
• Visual literacy + multimodal analysis

Why You’ll Love It

• Low prep — every day is planned for you
• Flexible pacing — teach in 2 weeks, 3 weeks, or customize
• Authentically rigorous — teaches film as text, not entertainment
• High student engagement — horror unlocks powerful discussion
• Deeply scaffolded — builds skills step-by-step toward the essay
• Aligned to Common Core for reading, writing, speaking/listening, and vocabulary

Content Advisory

The Babadook (2014) is rated PG-13 for disturbing images and thematic material related to grief and trauma. Teachers should preview the film and follow school or district policies regarding film permissions.