The Babysitter

Another variation on Home Alone like the recent Better Watch Out, and it succeeded just as well. Better Watch Out focused more on story and twists, whereas The Babysitter focuses mainly on gore and humour, so both score points with me, although seeing them all together in one film would have been even more of a kick. The film is nicely shot, very sexy, decently suspenseful and above all very gory, the deaths are impressive and will please the eye of many a horror fan. Definitely one of the best horror comedies this year. 75% (10/14/2017)

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%. (11/28/2017)

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. (01/03/2023)

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. (09/12/2023)

It delivers pretty much what the trailer promises: sterile, wannabe cool entertainment with pretty people in front of the camera, a light script and a serving of gory deaths that teenage boys might wank to. Of proper horror there isn’t even a pinch, of course, but nobody was expecting that from McG. The comparison to the recent Better Watch Out is an affront to horror fans. The two stars do deliver at least some decent craftsmanship in my eyes. In short, a perishable seasonal product. (10/14/2017)