31 Days of Horror: Netflix original The Babysitter is good, gory fun
Deep, dark horror is the perfect fit for Halloween, but there is also something to be said for horror movies that are a blast to watch. Netflix released The Babysitter in 2017, and it manages to be fun, while also boasting a great storyline, lots of splattery gore, and a cast that makes the movie crackle with energy.
12-year-old Cole is a bit old for a babysitter, but his regular sitter Bee is pretty cool. Together, the two watch movies and play games, it’s clear they are friends…and it doesn’t hurt that Bee is gorgeous, so Cole has a bit of a crush on her.
Cole’s friend and neighbor Melanie convinces him to stay up all night to see what Bee gets up to, and he takes on that challenge. At first, it seems like what one would expect – some of Bee’s friends come over after Cole goes to bed, and they play a truth or dare/spin the bottle mashup game. But things take a bloody turn when Bee suddenly and shockingly jams two swords into the head of one of her “friends.” Turns out, Bee and company are a demon worshipping cult, and blood sacrifices are in order.
The Babysitter has a killer cast
The Babysitter has moments of over-the-top gore, but what makes it so special is the characters (and the actors who portray them). Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) is Bee, and as usual, she is absolutely charming. While she is basically a villain, you can’t help but like her, and she seems to genuinely have affection for Cole.
Judah Lewis (Summer of 84) is super likeable as Cole, and Hana Mae Lee (Pitch Perfect), Bella Thorne (Find Your Friends), Robbie Amell (Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City), and Andrew Bachelor (Violent Night 2) are a riot as Bee’s demon-worshipping friends.
Particularly good are Lee, who plays the moody, possibly psychotic Sonya, and Thorne, hilarious as a cheerleader who gets extra whiny after she is accidently shot. And Amell has a great scene with Cole, as he tries to teach the boy to fight back when dealing with bullies.
The Babysitter is one of those movies that I honestly can’t wait to recommend to friends who enjoy horror. It never fails, everyone I recommend it to absolutely loves it.
It was successful enough that Netflix produced a sequel called The Babysitter: Killer Queen in 2020. Most of the cast returned for that one, and while it didn’t quite live up to The Babysitter’s master level of yummy goodness, it was still an extremely fun watch. Both films were directed by McG.
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