The Babysitter (2017)

The Babysitter is the kind of horror comedy that understands its ridiculous premise and makes the most of it. A kid discovers that the person he's trusted to watch him is involved in a murderous cult, and suddenly his quiet night at home turns into a bloody fight for survival. That sounds like a joke that could wear thin quickly, but I think the movie maintains a surprising amount of energy.

Samara Weaving is a huge reason it works. She has the charisma to make Bee seem like someone Cole would genuinely trust, which makes the change in the relationship more interesting. Even after the violence starts, she remains entertaining to watch. That balance between charm and danger is what makes the character more memorable than a generic horror villain.

The movie also gives Cole a chance to be resourceful. There is an obvious Home Alone influence in the way he has to use what is available to protect himself, but the consequences here are much nastier. I liked the way those ideas are mixed together. The film doesn't pretend the violence is realistic, and it can make you laugh at something that would be horrifying in a more serious movie.

The kills are a highlight. They're exaggerated, often ridiculous, and delivered with enough practical-looking gore to make the film feel like a proper horror comedy. The supporting characters have distinct personalities, so the mayhem rarely feels repetitive. I also appreciate that the story doesn't spend forever getting to the point.

This isn't a movie that needs deep mythology or a complicated explanation for its villains. It succeeds because of the cast, the pace and the willingness to be completely outrageous. The humor won't work for everybody, and some viewers may find the violence too much, but that's part of the film's identity.

I enjoyed returning to The Babysitter. It's bloody, funny and full of personality, with a strong central performance and a kid you actually want to see survive. That's more than enough to make it worthwhile for me.

The Babysitter is so much more violent than you might expect from a movie about a kid staying home with somebody he likes. I knew it was supposed to be a horror comedy, but I wasn't expecting how quickly things would get completely ridiculous. Once the secret about the babysitter comes out, the movie turns into something like a very bloody version of Home Alone.

I liked Cole. Sometimes kids in horror movies do things that make me want to scream at them for all the wrong reasons. He's frightened, but he also tries to figure out how to protect himself. I wanted him to get through the night, and that made everything a lot more entertaining.

Samara Weaving is wonderful in the movie. She's so charming that you can understand why Cole likes having her around. Even when things turn horrible, she has this personality that makes her fun to watch. I can see why she is so good at movies that mix horror and comedy. She knows how to be frightening and funny without making it seem like she's in two different films.

There is plenty of blood. Some of the kills are really gross, and I definitely didn't want to look at every single thing happening on screen. But everything is so exaggerated that it often becomes funny instead of upsetting. I could laugh at the ridiculous situations without feeling miserable afterward.

I also appreciate that the movie keeps moving. It doesn't spend an hour building toward a secret we already know is coming. Once things get going, there is always another problem Cole has to deal with. The other characters are strange enough that I wanted to see what they would do next.

I wouldn't put The Babysitter on for someone who hates gore or wants a gentle comedy. It's much nastier than that. But I had fun watching it, and I liked that the movie understood how silly the premise was. It's an entertaining, bloody little horror comedy that I'd happily revisit.