The Babysitter

It may be an eclectic pariah of all manner of stylistic tropes and clichés, but it's also so irresistibly quirky, fun and creative that I ended up quite liking it. A few scenes are downright stupid, and the pursuit of style sometimes makes it a parody even in moments when we should be at least a little scared, but some of the formal games are amusing (the intertitles), and the script in the second "slasher-exploitation-home invasion" half makes good use of the motifs outlined in the introduction (while being funny by reversing the roles, when the bad guys are gradually murdered). If it were more verbally humorous and more creative in generating tension or in the murders, I'd actually be very satisfied, this way most of my memories of the film will move to the third male hemisphere between my legs and involve Samara Weaving, who, if I had her as a babysitter, I'd quickly change my mind about whether it's really best to spend my evenings at the pub. (26/12/2017)

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. (04/01/2023)

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)

I think this film can be perfectly summed up by the word crap. Why the distributor listed it as a horror film is simply beyond me. Is it because of that terrible book? Or because of Samara Weaving's smile, which would scare off even a fully-grown shark? For a cheap laugh, it came in handy on a gloomy afternoon. Its runtime was by no means exaggerated, and those whose lives matter were given roles which might warrant a few lawsuits, because stereotypes. 3*- (25/11/2020)

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)