The Babysitter
November. 28,1980 NROverprotective mother Liz Benedict meets 18-year-old orphan Joanna Redwine and hires her as house help and live-in companion to rambunctious daughter Tara. Liz's husband Jeff isn't too thrilled with the arrangement, and his fears soon prove justified when Joanna begins to manipulate everyone and to slowly destroy the family. Meanwhile, next-door neighbor Dr. Linquist investigates and discovers Joanna has a disturbing past.
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I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
I love this movie so much
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes
The central idea of "The Babysitter" - a young woman worming her way into taking care of a family who doesn't know that she is deeply disturbed - is one that had been done a number of times in movies before this one, as well as afterwards. The basic familiarity of the plot didn't bother me. What did bother me, however, was how weakly produced this version was. Since it was made for TV, the movie stays strictly at a PG level, and that turns out to be the movie's downfall. There's no bite to the movie, certainly no sexual material, and the very limited violence comes across in a manner that is extremely casual. What this movie really needed was a harder edge to succeed, but as it is, it's too soft, as well as being drawn out to ridiculous levels. The only interesting things the movie has is its sometimes interesting musical score, as well as some picturesque location shooting in Washington state.
My TIVO is programmed to get William Shatner films since he's usually so much fun to watch in action. But he proved relatively restrained in his role.Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from this film, perhaps a kitschy hour and a half of entertainment.I've never seen Remingston Steele, so as soon as a young Zimbalist comes on the screen I could no help thinking "wow, who is that?" She is very convincing in the role of an enigmatic housekeeper who works her way into the family of Shatner and Duke-Astin.The film begins at a slow pace, but has the saving grace of not falling into the typical and predictable TV movie of the week plot.The acting is very good all around, as well as Zimbalist, Duke-Astin and John Houseman turn in good performances.I was surprised to see on IMDb after watching the film that it was directed by Peter Medak. I greatly respect Medak for his work in _The Changeling_ (1980), _The Krays_ (1990) and _Romeo is Bleeding_ (1993), all non-mainstream highly-respected (nearly cult) films. It is really surprising that Medak seems to weave between these films and TV sitcoms, movies of the week, and so on. His influence in creating the proper mood is, in retrospect, dominant in the film.As someone else mentioned, the sound quality is quite bad and it is at times difficult to make out the dialog.
Couple (Patty Duke and William Shatner) hires an orphaned teenage girl (Stephanie Zimbalist) with a dark and mysterious past as a nanny. At first she is perfect and keeps there house in top shape and makes life much easier for the couple, but as time goes on she becomes destructive and turns Duke and Shatner against one another and the house is becoming a total mess. She then starts to show her true colors and people start to drop like flies. Sometimes haunting and disturbing TV film is given lush direction and entertains untill it crumbles apart at the end. Zimbalist makes a good psycho, but Shatner is miscast.Not Rated; Violence.
People what's wrong with You?! How, in the nine hells, this movie got so high notes? Geez, this is complete no go. Don't waste neither Your money, nor Your time (as We all know 'time is money'). What I know for sure, is that They should hang'em all high - actors, actresses... o yeah and the script... and music.. There's nothing in this film that makes worth watching it. Yes, I know 'Romeo Is Bleeding' is a great movie, but 'the Babysitter' is Peter Medak's Waterloo. Last thing: There's as much suspense as in Beverly Hills 90210 or any similar crap.