The Movie Waffler New Release Review (DVD/VOD) - THE NIGHT SITTER | The Movie Waffler

New Release Review (DVD/VOD) - THE NIGHT SITTER

the night sitter review
Posing as a babysitter, a thief unleashes supernatural terror while burgling a home.

Review by Sue Finn

Directed by: Abiel Bruhn, John Rocco

Starring: Elyse Dufour, Jack Champion, Jermaine Rivers, Amber Neukum

the night sitter poster

Ted Hooper (Joe Walz) is an aspiring paranormal investigators host, his plans to launch his own show supported by the supernatural and macabre knick knacks he litters his house with.

When he answers the door to his just-hired-that-day-with-no-background-check babysitter Amber (The Walking Dead’s Elyse Dulfour), she is immediately plunged into his world of the occult.

Ted is all easy charm but there’s something odd about him - joking about the death of his wife, which was only a short year ago, certainly doesn’t leave a good impression.

Amber herself is a little on the dodgy side, asking a few too many questions about his valuables and what’s behind that secret locked door?

the night sitter review

Speaking of strange, he then introduces her to his son Kevin (Jack Champion), who sits upstairs in his room drawing violent imagery.

For some reason Ted now asks for references, but Amber explains she can’t provide them as she’s lost her phone.

I don’t know about you, but that would give me serious pause; not for old Tedster though as he still leaves her with his son, adding his date’s son Ronnie (Bailey Campbell) to the mix.

Ted and his squeeze Charlotte (Deanna Meske) depart on The Longest Date Ever, allowing time for Amber to order and eat pizza with the kids, plan a heist of Ted's valuables and unleash the three witches (aka The Three Mothers) that have been tormenting young Kevin for years.

Amber’s ex-boyfriend Rod (Jermaine Rivers) and his new girlfriend Lindsay (Amber Neukum) show up to help empty the home of its valuables, but not before some nookie in the master bedroom that you know will go horribly wrong. Don’t they know everyone pays for sex in horror movies??

the night sitter review

Amber also has a stalker called Martin who insists he’s her boyfriend and also comes along for the ride. I gotta say, it’s satisfying to see her tell him to “fuck off” even though he’s convinced she will come to her senses. Entitlement is so off-putting.

Lindsay is soon possessed by one of the mothers and before you know it she’s out recruiting sacrifices, which is both creepy and comedic; after all, seeing a demonic woman in a halter top and cat ears (“I’m a cat burglar”) is whackadoodle funny, especially with the addition of ‘Evil Dead’- style demon make up.

The creepy guy next door, who thus-far has done nothing but look longingly at the nubile Amber, now comes in handy as he knows the history of The Three Mothers; he advises they need “children to bleed dry.”

It may be the kids the Mothers are after but they don’t care about killing anyone in their way; will our protagonists all survive the night? And what will happen when the never-ending date actually draws to a close and Ted returns home?

the night sitter review

There’s much to enjoy here from writer/director team Abiel Bruhn and John Rocco, some welcome humour (“she got totally naked”), some fancy film work (a particularly lovely tracking shot comes to mind), one or two successful chills and the acting across the board is natural and believable with the central trio of Dulfour, Champion and Campbell as standouts.

The deaths are bloody and gruesome, though some are easier to see than others, and the festive setting allows for arresting visuals awash with vibrant primary colours of red, green, gold and blue.

The script could do with a bit of tightening; more of that unexpected humour, a more consistent pace, clearer explanations for events and much better characterisations for the Mothers and their motivations, but overall I really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, and I really digged that '80s vibe.

Fun and funny, this one is worth sitting up for.

The Night Sitter is on DVD/VOD now.


2019 movie reviews