Film Review of The Babysitter (2017)

source: netflix

The Babysitter is a horror comedy film that mixes bloody violence and teenage humor into an entertaining movie. It was released nearly ten years ago in 2017. The movie is about a boy named Cole, a shy young boy who has a big crush on his beautiful babysitter, Bee. She was played by Samara Weaving, who especializes in horror comedy movies (Ready or Not I and II). Bee is beautiful, cool and cares for Cole. She is the kind of babysitter every kid would want. However, Cole soon discovers that she is hiding a scary secret.

source: netflix

The story begins with Cole struggling at school and dealing with bullies. All the while he depends on Bee for support. One night, after pretending to go to bed, Cole sees Bee and her friends during a late night party. It started as a harmless spying but quickly turns into a nightmare when he sees a satanic ritual that involved a human sacrifice. From that point on, the movie transforms into a fast paced survival story as Cole tries to escape Bee and her cult like group of friends.

One of the things I like in The Babysitter is its balance between horror and comedy. The movie never takes itself too seriously which helps the violence feel funny rather than scary. The kills are exaggerated and cartoonish, making the film feel closer to a dark comedy than a teenage horror movie. The quick pacing keep the movie entertaining from start to finish.

Samara Weaving gives the standout performance of the film. Bee is charming, funny and frightening all at once. It makes her an unforgettable villain. Judah Lewis does a solid job as Cole’s transformation from a timid boy into someone capable of standing up for himself. It also featured Green Arrow actor Robbie Amell as a football jock that was part of the cult.

However, the movie does have weaknesses. Exaggerated humor may not work for viewers looking for serious horror like other teen horror films "Scream" or "I Know What You Did Last Summer". The supporting villains are entertaining but look stereotype rather than fully developed characters. Despite these weaknesses, the film is entertaining because it's ridiculous and funny.

My opinion, The Babysitter is a fun horror comedy film that has plenty of laughs and funny kills. Fans of funny horror movies like Zombieland or Happy Death Day will likely enjoy it. I would definitely recommend The Babysitter to viewers who want an entertaining mix of horror and comedy. The movie was successful that there was a sequel, The Babysitter Killer Queen that has serious links to the original movie.