The Babysitter

The Babysitter is a conspicuously mishandled combination of subtle black comedy and fantastical splatter. McG completely mindlessly mixes modern visuals with the most stereotypical teen characters, unoriginal gore scenes, ineffective allusions to cult films and stiff humour, and tries to string it all together in the story of a 12-year-old boy, another outsider who gets bullied at school. It could have worked within certain boundaries (if he woke up from a bad dream at the end, for example), but it shouldn’t have been so moronic and divorced from reality. (17/10/2020)

I stumbled upon the film quite by chance, and was surprised by the trailer, which promised something unconventional. On top of that, the film was directed by someone with a few successful pieces under their belt (his version of Terminator may not appeal to everyone, but I don’t disdain it). However, overall, I was a bit disappointed. The film is aimed at a younger audience, which is apparent within minutes; sometimes the jokes felt too exaggerated, with the creators pushing too hard. A few scenes worked well and brought a smile to my face, but these were overshadowed by the supposedly funny but, in my view, awkward ones. The fast pace made up for it, keeping things in high gear. From the first death, it gained significant momentum. I particularly liked the character of Amella, a fanatic with a strange sense of humor, which suited this type of film in every way. Brutality appeared as a daily occurrence, and some deaths could be categorized as absurdities of the highest degree, but the film itself was absurd. I like how many people compare it to Home Alone. It’s worth noting that this is a somewhat rougher and crazier version. I give it 67%. (28/11/2017)

Hats off. McG created an enjoyable horror comedy which made me feel the same way I felt when I watched Shaun of the Dead many years ago. It had great atmosphere, awesome cuts but it still wasn’t enough for 5 stars. There is not enough music for my taste. It is stylish only at the end when there is Queen playing in the background. It would be a lot better if there was more music in it. On the other hand the premise is brilliant and I have to say that Samara Weaving is great at picking her roles. This really is a movie crazy trip that makes fun of every slasher with great zeal. (12/09/2020)

The Babysitter combines elements of horror and black comedy and if you don't take McG's film too seriously, you can enjoy it quite a bit. The film has an ideally short running time, more than a few WTF moments and in more than one scene is reminiscent of Home Alone (with an R-rating). Some of the moments, whether bloody or humorous, were effective, some less so (as was evident in the movie references, for example), but on the whole it was a likeable romp for just one viewing. (12/09/2023)

Hugo Weaving's niece in a swimsuit, with a kitchen knife or a shotgun, take your pick. A horror take on Home Alone with a dash of Satanism. The opening with the nanny that every boy (and not just boys) dreams of having sets the right tone and then spills over into the bloody destruction of the beautiful blonde's evil plans. It's often overwrought and McG seems to have ditched consistency and drama, but I enjoyed it unexpectedly a lot. (04/01/2023)