‘Dreamgirls can be a nightmare’
The Babysitter is a 2015 [released 2017] American horror-comedy film directed by ‘McG’ from a screenplay by Brian Duffield. The movie stars Judah Lewis, Samara Weaving, Robbie Amell and Bella Thorne.
Netflix has greenlit a sequel to The Babysitter, with director “McG” back on board at the helm and Dan Lagana (American Vandal) scripting.
Plot:
Cole (Judah Lewis) is madly in love with his babysitter (Samara Weaving) Bee. She’s hot, funny, and popular.
One night, in a moment of defiance, Cole secretly stays up past his bedtime to discover she’s actually a cold-blooded killer who’s in league with the Devil.
He now must spend his night evading Bee’s band of killers who will stop at nothing to prevent Cole from spilling their dark secret. It’s up to Cole to survive the night…
Reviews:
” …a fast-paced, crazy-as-hell bloodbath. Boobs are shot, throats are chopped open, eyeballs gouged, the works. All the while, the movie maintains its upbeat, nearly John Hughes-esque sense of humor – it’s really more of a comedy than a horror movie. The best comparison I can make is the recently-released Better Watch Out…” Arrow in the Head
“This on-the-nose coming-of-age slasher is a buffet of gore that’s plagued by an inconsistent tone. Always trying too hard to be hip and cool (boasting a ridiculous soundtrack that would make a ’90s horror film jealous), McG turns Brian Duffield‘s Blacklist screenplay into a bad dad joke (with handjobs and all) that’s in the middle of a midlife crisis.” Bloody Disgusting
“Clumsy set-up aside, there’s a devilishly black sense of humour at work in the script from Brian Duffield (Insurgent) and this is a horror movie which has its tongue (and occasionally a kitchen knife) firmly in cheek. You probably couldn’t ask for a better movie treat for Friday the 13th…” What the Craggus Saw…
“The film’s protagonist, Cole, is an endearing underdog with good intentions as he outfoxes a cabal of murderous teens while also dealing with relatable adolescent staples like bullies, parents, and first kisses. It’s a little bit Girl Next Door, a dash of Home Alone, and a sprinkle of familiar horror films like Friday the 13th and I Know What You Did Last Summer, which the meta-movie both subtly and overtly references.” Decider
“ …running beneath the big laughs and extreme violence are some worthwhile themes about growing up and taking responsibility. They never get in the way of the pure entertainment, but they add a sweetness early on and in the film’s third act that give the movie a little bit extra.” Film School Rejects
“The Babysitter is one of those horror comedies you just can’t miss. It has all the right elements, and since it’s directed by McG (Charlie’s Angels), you know it looks absolutely spectacular as well. This is one visually delicious horror comedy.” Heaven of Horror
“The Babysitter had potential but director McG treats this material like it’s one of the lamer American Pie sequels. The broadness of the humor detracts from the characters and the story and the horror, instead of complementing them. It may be manic enough to amuse some horror fans, but it’s so immature — even about its own immaturity — that it’s difficult to recommend.” IGN
“Fast-moving (only 85 minutes!) and frequently hilarious, it’s probably the best unit of popcorn horror entertainment that Netflix has managed to put out so far. The Babysitter’s character chemistry actually justifies a second go-round, which I’d be happy to watch.” Paste magazine
” …a thrilling, amusing and sportive game of cat and mouse as Cole has to avoid getting murdered by Bee and her cult friends. The film does not over dramatise its gags. Nor does it excruciatingly drag them out. In the end, The Babysitter becomes a modern-day Home Alone slasher […] and I was completely sold on it.” Ready Steady Cut
“There are moments that feel a little overkill – a choreographed disco dance routine, a reenactment of a confrontation from an old western – but all in all it balances out nicely to give us a horror comedy which isn’t super-scary or super-funny, but is always great fun, and has the good grace to be over and done within barely 85 minutes.” Warped Perspective
” …for a horror comedy, a genre blend which has been plagued by terrible movies for as long as I can remember, The Babysitter deserves to be put on a pedestal as one of the good ones. I’m talking somewhere alongside Zombieland and Bride of Chucky.” Wherever I Look
Cast and characters:
Samara Weaving … Bee
Judah Lewis … Cole
Robbie Amell … Max
Hana Mae Lee … Sonya
King Bach … John
Emily Alyn Lind … Melanie
Leslie Bibb … Cole’s mom
Ken Marino … Cole’s dad
Filming locations:
Los Angeles, California
Release:
Lensed in 2015, The Babysitter was streamed on Netflix from October 13, 2017.
