Sundance buzz title The Babadook has been acquired by IFC Midnight, which snagged U.S. and Latin America rights to the chiller from Aussie newcomer Jennifer Kent, Deadline said.

Essie Davis stars in the pic as a widowed single mother who connects with her troubled son (then six-year-old Noah Wiseman) by reading a bedtime storybook that unleashes a shadowy monster in their home.

Kent wrote and directed the Sundance Midnighter selection which also stars Daniel Henshall, Hayley McElhinney, Barbara West, and Ben Winspear.

Causeway Films’ Kristina Ceyton produced with Kristian Moliere, with backing from Screen Australia. Jonathan Page, Michael Tear, Jan Chapman, and Jeff Harrison exec produced the pic which earned raves from critics in Park City and put Kent on the map as a helmer to watch.

Entertainment One is repping international rights. Sundance Selects/ IFC Films SVP of Acquisitions and Productions Arianna Bocco negotiated the deal with Cinetic’s John Sloss on behalf of eOne’s Harold van Lier and Charlotte Mickie and the filmmakers.