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Neon Style Over Horror Substance: The Babysitter Review

The Babysitter is a fairly well pitched horror-comedy in the spirit of Cabin in the Woods and Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. This recent meta-commentary boost to the genre has certainly livened up what is commonly cliched and poorly produced fodder for bored teenagers not yet making out. And while The Babysitter is neither breaking new ground nor adding anything new to this commentary, it does play well within it's world.

The charm of the film relies heavily on it's two leads, Samara Weaving and Judah Lewis. The film takes it's time with these characters, sitting up a relationship that may not be deep or truly meaningful, but is kind and playful. The payoff to this build up is evident, as it allows for what (admittedly little) character development to take place. Both leads are very endearing and fun to watch.

The entire film is quite stylish, possibly to a fault. It seems to be aping in various 1980's horror cliches, playing with them and lampshading them constantly, but the aesthictics are far too modern for these references to play as well as they could. McG is not known for his restraint, and his guts-or-glory forcefulness can play really well in certain formats. Unfortunately in this case it's detrimental, cutting into the humor and the tension like a dull machete, clunky and choppy.

The humor is, for the most part, on point. The character of Cole (Lewis) is a smart character in a world of dumb, and he makes it clear, constantly questioning or simply pointing out things other movies (specifically horror movies) would just let slide. This meta-commentary is a fun extra layer for the core audience of these B-level horror films, but still highly enjoyable for thus unfamiliar with the tropes. Whether this be asking why the jock is always without a shirt, or telling his mom he obviously knows what a pussy is, the lightness and ease of the comedy makes for an easy watch.

This is also what makes our two leads work so well together. Bee (Weaving) constantly points out how she and Cole are on the same wavelength. I think that wavelength is this higher understanding of the world. They can see the tropes, the traps that other horror characters consistently fall for. It's this higher understanding that really makes the chemistry work for them.

There is of course always a bit more to be desired when it comes to our side characters, obvious body count victims there to die in highly elaborate ways. Sure, this is a trope that is a necessary evil, because without the deaths, this wouldn't be the fun film it is. But it is hard to reckon with the rather boring nothingness that these characters are, blank slates ready to be painted in blood. When compared to our engaging and well rounded introduction to Bee and Cole, it is a let down when the other characters may as well not even have names.

The Babysitter is exactly what it sets out to be, for better or worse. Bright, shiny B-movie thrills with some fun set pieces and funny moments, that can get a little lost in the cliches that it's also trying to skewer.

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