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Sell Me... The Babysitter (2017)
25 Plays4 months ago
Hazardous Opinions will be doing another mini-episode with Hunter selling you... The Babysitter (2017)!
As always, please reach out and let us know your thoughts on Instagram, TikTok, or by email at hazardousopinionspod@gmail.com and chat with us on Discord! If you love movies, add us on Letterboxd! Andy - Eric - Hunter - Ashlee.
Please send us your movie recommendations or suggestions for discussion topics. For our next episode, Ashlee and Hunter will be discussing Thanksgiving (2023)! Watch ahead and then tune in to hear our thoughts. Thank you so much everyone!
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Transcript
Podcast Schedule & Thanksgiving Episode
00:00:36
Speaker
We apologize the schedule for episodes hasn't been consistent. It got messed up because of me being sick and going to Portland. So totally on me. Next episode will be a deep dive into Thanksgiving 2023.
Listener Engagement & Support
00:00:50
Speaker
A big way you guys can help us is by following us and giving us five stars wherever you get your podcasts. Also reach out to us with anything movies at hazardousopinionspodatgmail.com or on socials like TikTok and Instagram at hazardousopinionspod and chat with us on discord. We really appreciate all of you and your support.
Introduction to 'The Babysitter'
00:01:14
Speaker
Now I'll be selling you the babysitter 2017.
00:01:19
Speaker
This was directed by Mick G. He has also directed Charlie's Angels, This Means War, Family Switch, and Terminator Salvation. It's not a very stellar lineup of movies he's directed, and this is something I love about movies, is that you can find some diamonds in the rough that mean so much to you if you really look close enough. But he's also executive produced in awesome series like Supernatural, and one of my personal favorites, near and dear to my heart, Chuck.
00:01:50
Speaker
The Babysitter was written by Brian Duffield. Also, just wanted to make a big shout out to Martin Bernfeld.
Personal Connections & Film Influences
00:01:58
Speaker
He's married to Kayla Emptor, that is also an amazing film editor. She has been a really helpful figure in me navigating my personal desire to be a part of film in some fulfilling way in my life.
00:02:14
Speaker
This movie sparked us getting in contact with each other and I'm so grateful and it's a big reason why I chose The Babysitter. So thank you, Kayla. You are a wonderful friend. And I already know Martin is just as great of a person. Martin has also edited films like Power Rangers 2017, Hellboy 2019, The Babysitter Killer Queen, which is the sequel to this.
00:02:41
Speaker
and a 2024 film called Little Wing. So go check that out. That stars Brian Cox, which from succession and very, very famous actor. So go go check that out.
Plot & Cast Overview of 'The Babysitter'
00:02:54
Speaker
The plot of The Babysitter is this is a horror comedy that follows a young, lonely 12-year-old boy named Cole that stays up past his bedtime and discovers that his hot babysitter belongs to a satanic cult that will stop at nothing to keep him quiet. This movie stars Samara Weaving, one of our favorite Scream Queens on the pod. She's so beautiful. She's charismatic, charming, expressive, and so funny as the character B in this movie.
00:03:27
Speaker
Judah Lewis is Cole. He's our 12-year-old boy we follow throughout the movie. He really nails it as a 12-year-old without getting on your nerves. He makes Cole the underdog you root for. It also stars Robbie Amell. We love him. Andrew Batchelor, King Batch, if anybody knows him from Vines. a love he He always makes me laugh. And Bella Thorne and Hannah May Lee.
00:03:54
Speaker
The letterbox rating for the babysitter is an average of 2.7 out of 5 stars. My personal rating for the movie would be 4 out of 5 stars, so quite a bit higher than the letterbox average rating. um Hopefully you guys will kind of understand why. It's just a very personal movie if you aren't already getting that.
Film Aesthetics: Fun & Rewatchable
00:04:20
Speaker
Why you should watch? We're going fun and wacky this week instead of something straight out of your nightmares like we were going through a lot more dark stuff throughout Halloween. The babysitter is extremely rewatchable and a film many can handle unless you can't do blood and violence. But don't worry, it's all fake and adds to the goofy tone.
00:04:46
Speaker
Many horror comedies can be a blast, but possibly focus more on getting laughs and leaving other creativity to the wayside such as story or character. The babysitter doesn't lack those other aspects while being funny, and that's why I return to it all the time.
00:05:05
Speaker
The set design and the way it's incorporated into very prominent shots throughout the movie is so full of character, color, and it pokes at you because it does feel unique. There's a couch in Cole's living room that is a mustard yellow with a ton of chickens plastered all over it. Things like furniture, other objects, and even the color of the walls add to the wacky experience of it all.
00:05:32
Speaker
whose kitchen is full on freaking green like this, like come on. it's It's nice these set designs get to shine too and they're shown very often. The graphics that pop up here and there remind you of something like watching Into the Spider-Verse. It's a comic book come to life, but it's used correctly and sparingly in this since it's live action. Cole being 12 years old and nerdy, we support.
00:06:02
Speaker
The graphics sound effects add to the imagination of Cole and the perspective of a 12 year old. The babysitter does feel old school while mixing in modern aspects, down to the cinematography, the characters being the cool girl, jock, a cheerleader, rapper, the outcast, and objects being used, and the odd yet charming comedy.
00:06:28
Speaker
It's a great blend though, while not falling so far into an 80s cult slasher knockoff.
Relating Personal Experiences to the Film
00:06:34
Speaker
Story is something I try and identify with for films. As I've mentioned before, this contains a genuinely touching bond between Cole and his babysitter bee. This central connection keeps you entertained, locked in, and it brings complicated feelings like betrayal and confusion.
00:06:54
Speaker
Being a 26-year-old man, obviously, yes. At some point, I was a 12-year-old boy. I can't relate to Cole having a babysitter at 12, but I did have a teenage girl as a babysitter when I was younger. I remember wanting to impress her. I remember wanting to be her closest friend. I remember having an actual crush on her, even though I was probably, jeez, like eight years old, nine years old. I don't know.
00:07:24
Speaker
Maybe, yeah, maybe even younger there. Honestly, couldn't even tell you her name or exactly when this was. But watching this movie, it's like a flash from the past. You look up to this woman, you hope she actually enjoys spending time with you. And God forbid she has friends that she, you know, brings over occasionally and you don't ever want to seem lame, right? Especially when your babysitter does care about you and actually looks after you.
00:07:51
Speaker
That's who my babysitter was, so I really do relate to Cole on a deep level throughout this movie. Another reason why I really relate to Cole, I did play with action figures a little longer than I should have, getting a little personal there. I was overly nice, I was respectful, I was nerdy, and ultimately, I was a bit lonely. I i was lonely in my interests.
00:08:18
Speaker
That's exactly why I'm grateful for people like Ashley, Andy, and Eric that share in those interests, and also people in my life that try and share in those interests. So, like, thank you. Thank you to those guys.
Character Dynamics & Comparisons
00:08:33
Speaker
Can't go into detail as much as I'd like to with how the story progresses, but along with me saying that the babysitter has an awesome blend of both horror and comedy,
00:08:44
Speaker
Cole is such an endearing character that even his interactions with the murderous friends of B are lighthearted quite often. Each character apart from B and Cole also stands out and have differing personalities and so individualized. To me as a hopeless romantic young boy, I might still be. This was one of my first experiences of envisioning the woman I would end up marrying.
00:09:10
Speaker
sounds extremely cheesy, but when you watch B and Cole, Cole really worships B and not in that creepy way. She is his dream woman. She's charming, sexy, a goddess, quick-witted, outgoing, and adaptable with always being herself and not apologizing for it. Empathetic, someone to look up to, and ultimately a best friend.
00:09:37
Speaker
I can say I've had a dream woman, you know, kind of envision, not not an exact woman, but you know what I'm talking about. Luckily enough for me, my dream woman did come into my life unexpectedly and I'm lucky enough to still have her, somehow. Along with the character interactions, bloody, but in a fun way kills, and the tone, the plot of the babysitter stands up every single rewatch.
00:10:04
Speaker
I'd say this has a lot to do with the tightly knitted writing and not falling into the trap of stretching too thin and doing too much. There's a supernatural element. Yes, but no long winded lore downloads you for you to listen to. It's simple and I like that they keep it that way.
00:10:24
Speaker
This film knows what it is and it owns it with a non-serious, cheesy, and thrilling tone. It really rides that line of danger and lightheartedness with finesse. So, if you want to laugh instead of scream or jump, remember what it's like to have a babysitter you look up to and love an underdog story, then this is the film for you. The babysitter reminds me of Freaky,
00:10:51
Speaker
And I'd say freaky just because of the comedy and light tone to it, even though it is pretty ah violent and slasher ish. I mean, freaky isn't in the cult realm, but when you watch them back to back, they do kind of feel in the same vein for tone, at least.
00:11:18
Speaker
I would say scary movie just because oh wow just some of the lines in this movie and the dialogue is just ah it's so quick witted and also like the first couple of scary movies are as well I feel and it's paying homage to to past horror but not shitting on it I could say it pays respect still And Home Alone, because our titular character Cole, being a 12-year-old boy, yes, not as young as Kevin, and not during Christmas, and also it's just his parents that leave him just for one night, and they don't forget about him. It's intentional to leave him alone at the house with a babysitter, at least. But the having to deal with
00:12:14
Speaker
your surroundings, your own home, and what you know best compared to these people. He doesn't do whole setups like Kevin does, but little set pieces in the home are very fun and how Cole protects himself.
Streaming Availability & Closing Remarks
00:12:32
Speaker
So you'll get that feeling of home alone still, don't worry. Where to watch? This is available to stream on Netflix because it is a Netflix original.
00:12:44
Speaker
I hope you guys enjoyed this. Thank you so much for listening to my sell me on the babysitter 2017. That's all I have for it. Lastly, make sure to follow us on socials on TikTok and Instagram at hazardous opinions pod.
00:13:00
Speaker
Join us on Discord, and follow our individual accounts on Letterboxd. All the links will be in the episode description for you guys. If you want to reach out to us, you