Favourite Horror Movies 19 & 20 – The Babysitter (2017) & The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
The Babysitter (2017) & The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) are two gloriously gory comedies that deserve far more love.
When people talk about modern horror, the conversation often turns to prestige slow-burns or ultra-bleak shockers. What gets overlooked are films that understand horror can be outrageous, colourful and genuinely funny without losing its bite. That’s exactly what The Babysitter and The Babysitter: Killer Queen deliver.
Directed by McG, these two films blend splatter, teen comedy and 1980s excess into something that feels both nostalgic and fresh. They’re loud, knowingly ridiculous and packed with cartoonishly creative violence. Yet beneath all the blood and punchlines, there’s a surprisingly sincere coming-of-age story running through both entries.
The two movies much, much better than many give them credit for. In fact, they’re as good as each other, just in slightly different ways.
Let’s take a look…
⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Please note that the following article contains detailed discussion of plot points, character developments and key scenes from The Babysitter (2017) and The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020). Major twists and ending moments are referenced throughout.
If you have not yet seen the films and wish to avoid spoilers, you may want to watch them first before continuing.
The Babysitter (2017)
The first film introduces us to Cole, a sweet but anxious twelve-year-old who is hopelessly devoted to his babysitter Bee. She’s cool, confident and seems to genuinely care about him. Then he discovers she’s part of a satanic cult that needs his blood for a ritual.
From that point on, the film becomes a gloriously chaotic home invasion in reverse. Cole isn’t trying to escape masked strangers in the dark. He’s being hunted by attractive, charismatic teens in his brightly lit suburban home.
Why it works so well
1. The tone is fearless
The film commits fully to its absurdity. Heads explode. Fireworks go off indoors. People are impaled in spectacular fashion. The violence is excessive but so heightened that it never becomes oppressive. It’s more akin to a live-action cartoon than a grim slasher.
2. It understands character dynamics
The cult members are not faceless villains. Each one has a distinct personality: the dumb jock, the mean girl, the geeky psychopath. That gives every confrontation its own flavour.
3. It’s secretly a coming-of-age story
At its heart, this is about Cole learning to stand up for himself. By the end, he’s no longer the timid kid being bullied at school. He’s faced literal demons and survived.
Standout performances
- Samara Weaving as Bee
Samara Weaving gives Bee a magnetic mix of warmth and menace. She’s playful, affectionate and funny… right up until she isn’t. The final scene between Bee and Cole, when she explains she always knew he’d survive, adds an emotional note that elevates the film beyond pure camp. - Judah Lewis as Cole
Judah Lewis carries the entire film. His performance sells both the fear and the humour. Without a believable Cole, the movie collapses. Instead, he makes the transformation from nervous child to blood-soaked survivor feel earned. - Robbie Amell as Max
Robbie Amell steals every scene he’s in. Max is absurdly enthusiastic about fitness and murder in equal measure. His bizarre pep talks mid-homicide are some of the film’s funniest moments. - Bella Thorne as Allison
Bella Thorne plays the queen bee mean girl with relish, delivering her over-the-top demise in memorably explosive fashion.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
Sequels often stumble, especially in horror-comedy. This one doesn’t. It doubles down.
Set two years later, Cole is now a social outcast because no one believes his story about the satanic cult. When he reluctantly attends a lakeside party, Bee’s old cult members return for round two. What follows is bigger, louder and even more self-aware.
Why it’s just as good
1. It expands the mythology
We learn more about Bee’s past and her motivations. The emotional weight of her relationship with Cole becomes clearer, giving the sequel a surprising poignancy.
2. It raises the absurdity
The deaths are even more elaborate. The setting shifts from a suburban house to open water and desert landscapes, which allows for more inventive set pieces.
3. It deepens Cole’s arc
Cole isn’t just surviving this time. He’s fighting back with confidence. His character growth from the first film pays off beautifully here.
Standout performances
- Samara Weaving returning as Bee
Even with limited screen time, she dominates the film’s emotional core. Bee remains complex. She’s a villain, yet her affection for Cole feels genuine. - Jenna Ortega as Phoebe
Jenna Ortega is the sequel’s secret weapon. Phoebe mirrors Bee’s chaotic energy but channels it differently. She brings vulnerability and sharp wit, quickly becoming a fan favourite. - Robbie Amell and the returning cult
The sequel cleverly leans into the self-awareness of its returning villains. They know they’re ridiculous, and that’s the joke.
Why they’re as good as each other
The first film is tighter and more contained. The second is bigger and more emotionally layered. But both share:
- Razor-sharp comic timing
- A commitment to practical, outrageous gore
- A surprisingly sincere emotional backbone
- Strong performances across the board
- A playful, neon-soaked aesthetic
They feel like two halves of the same story. One is about discovering courage. The other is about owning it.
Many horror sequels feel like rehashes. Killer Queen feels like evolution.
Why they’re underrated
- They went straight to streaming
Without a major cinema push, they never built the word-of-mouth momentum they deserved. - They look like disposable teen comedies at first glance
The bright posters and glossy cast might suggest something lightweight and forgettable. In reality, they’re carefully crafted genre pieces. - Horror-comedy is often dismissed
If it’s not grim enough to be terrifying or serious enough to be “elevated horror”, it can fall through the cracks.
Yet these films understand something important: horror can be fun without being stupid.
Fun Trivia
- The films are directed by McG, best known for action-heavy projects like Charlie’s Angels, which explains the slick, kinetic style.
- Samara Weaving performed many of her own stunts in the first film.
- The cult members’ personalities were intentionally exaggerated to parody classic teen movie archetypes.
- Robbie Amell leaned into improvisation for some of Max’s most ridiculous lines.
- The sequel expands Bee’s backstory in a way that reframes parts of the original film.
- Jenna Ortega was relatively early in her career at the time of Killer Queen and has since become a major horror icon.
- The films use practical blood effects heavily, which adds to their visceral impact.
- Both films deliberately use bright lighting rather than traditional horror darkness, making the violence feel even more brazen.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the mood for horror that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers genuine stakes and inventive gore, these films are hard to beat.
They’re funny without being smug. Bloody without being miserable. Emotional without being preachy.
Most importantly, they’re rewatchable. You can put them on for the laughs, the splatter, the performances or simply the chaotic energy.
For anyone who enjoys horror with a wicked grin, The Babysitter and The Babysitter: Killer Queen are essential viewing.
MOVIE RATING
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