In late 2017, Netflix brought director McG’s over-the-top horror comedy, The Babysitter to subscribers. The movie – a black comedy about a young boy and his devilish babysitter – was a hoot-and-a-half, and mixed belly laughs with lashings of gore.
Three years on and the streaming service delivers the next instalment in the series, in the shape of The Babysitter: Killer Queen. The film reunites key players from part one for yet another gruesome giggle-fest, which extends and enhances the story.
For those who have never watched The Babysitter, go and watch the movie now. Bookmark this post, view the original film, and come back – because the sequel only really works if you have watched the first film.
For those who have watched The Babysitter, this second helping picks up the story two years later. Within those two years, lead character Cole Johnson (played once again by Judah Lewis) has become a shell of his former self, after being ridiculed for his involvement in a bizarre night with his babysitter, Bee.
In short, no one believes Cole’s claims about a blood ritual, his deranged babysitter, or his epic fight for survival. And this disbelief extends to best friend Melanie (Emily Alyn Lind), who despite being involved in the events of the first film is also of the opinion that Cole might be a little delusional.
Cole’s ‘delusions’ form the first act of the movie, and detail the impact that Bee’s actions have had on his mental health. While The Babysitter might have ended with a somewhat cocksure Cole who overcame his tormentor(s), Killer Queen makes it clear he is now an uneasy teen living with PTSD.
This is interesting stuff, and works very well on two levels. One: Cole is a male victim, and this is quite rare in a genre which traditionally focuses on the ‘final girl’ rather than a final guy; and two: the story delves into the trauma that survivors live with after coming face-to-face with a killer/killers.
All of this character work helps to set the scene and add depth to both Cole and the universe he inhabits. While The Babysitter might have appeared to be a throw-away movie played entirely for laughs, Killer Queen ensures this is a series of films worth paying attention to, with a likeable lead going through some heavy stuff.
And of course, the heavy stuff isn’t quite over – this is a horror sequel after all, and that means Cole is once again put through the wringer, with another life-changing night of horrific hijinks. This night includes dismemberment, decapitations, a pact with the devil, and some familiar faces.
Without dropping too many spoilers, let’s just say this sequel finds a neat little way to revisit the original movie, bringing back some of the fun from the first film. In doing this, it also develops the mythology and creates a strong connection between the two movies.
As noted above, there really is no point watching Killer Queen unless you have watched The Babysitter, as these films are so intertwined. However, if you have watched and adored The Babysitter, then dive right in, there is no reason you won’t find this equally as enjoyable.
Is it the greatest sequel ever made? No, of course not, but I do feel that it sits comfortably alongside its stablemate. It takes everything that worked in the original, offers up more of the same, then drops in some neat little twists to keep things fresh.
I loved The Babysitter back in 2017, and I find Killer Queen equally as entertaining. It won’t be for everybody, but for those who want a fun horror movie, which manages to balance some interesting ideas with some laugh out loud comedy, this is a real treat.
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Thank you for taking the time to stop by It’s A Stampede! to read this review for The Babysitter: Killer Queen. For more horrific content, be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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