The Babysitter (2017)
It may not sound like much to call The Babysitter director McG’s best movie but you'd never guess it came from the one who delivered us This Means War and Terminator: Salvation. Bloody, funny, occasionally touching, with a terrific cast, some neat twists, and a couple of well-placed scares, it’s a blast.
Pre-teen Cole (Judah Lewis) dusts himself off from yet another encounter with the neighborhood bully (Miles J. Harvey) but he’s not upset. His parents are going out, which means Bee (Samara Weaving) is babysitting tonight. She’s always got something fun planned. When Cole stays up past his bedtime, he discovers Bee and her friends (Hana Mae Lee, Robbie Smell, Bell Thorne, and Andrew Bachelor) are about to perform a satanic ritual that requires his blood.
It’s almost too bad the title gives away that Bee's villainous. Before you find out she’s drinking blood out of a cup and consorting with demons, she and Cole are so good together you hope the movie will be just about them hanging out. You wish you had a babysitter as cool as Bee. She’s funny, always knows just what to say, and has all of the best movie lines memorized. It doesn’t hurt she’s played by Samara Weaving. If anyone can teach Cole to stand up for himself, it’s her. And she does… but not the way she expected. Once the movie does full horror-comedy, it’s the kid versus the teens and by the end of it, the floors will be slick with the red stuff.
Whether you’re getting the scene ready for a punchline or a scare, timing is everything. The Babysitter demonstrates this well. The script by Brian Duffield sets up the stage. Cole is being chased. He just barely manages to squeeze through the doorway when suddenly a gory death comes out of nowhere. It’s like one of those roller coasters that amps the dips by spraying you with water except it’s blood and guts thrown at the screen. You’re so shocked it takes a moment to figure out the appropriate reaction: “Ewwww!” followed by belly laughs. You're kept on your toes by being led by what you think are standard movie conventions that turn out to be subversions. You think you’ve outsmarted The Babysitter but it was playing the long con. All that buildup was not an answer to Cole’s problem, it was a joke. It’s twice as funny when both he and you have been fooled.
The Babysitter isn't exactly revolutionary and more than once you’ll wonder where all the adults have gone. There’s an awful racket going on. You’d think someone would investigate. You’re having a great time so why spoil it with technicalities? The writing is tight and all of the performers are reveling in the dialogue they've been given. Weaving steals the show but everyone has more than a couple of great moments. A scene mid-end credits hints at a sequel and if it's anything like this, I can't wait. (September 13, 2020)
