A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting (2020)

October 15, 2020 7:04 PM

A babysitter embarks on a mission to save a child who's been abducted by monsters. (Netflix, book adaptation)

Daily Dead Interview: Director Rachel Talalay on A BABYSITTER’S GUIDE TO MONSTER HUNTING

Hollywood Reporter review - Overstuffed family fun.

Variety Review: Netflix’s Bland Junior Horror Aims to Distract Kids, Not Haunt Them - Netflix's latest slab of spooky-season content is a strictly serviceable "Goosebumps" knockoff that demands little of its young audience, or of director Rachel Talalay.

Meaww - ‘A Babysitter’s Guide To Monster Hunting’ Review: A perfect fantasy for one of October’s best traditions

Rotten Tomatoes page

posted by oh yeah! (4 comments total)

I didn't realize it Tom Felton was playing the villain until I was writing the post. Or Tamsen McDonough (Lucy from Killjoys) as the mother of the abductee. I may have to re-watch a few scenes to appreciate them better.

Anyway, I thought this was enjoyable. Nothing earth-shattering, definitely reminds me of better movies, and as it's an adaptation of a trilogy it very much feels like a set-up for a movie franchise. But it's got a good cast and decent visuals, I wouldn't mind seeing the continuing adventures of this Scooby gang.
posted by oh yeah! at 7:14 PM on October 15, 2020

I liked Tom Felton's Grand Guignol had a great Dirtbag Jareth, The Goblin King aesthetic. I thought the two young leads -- Tamara Smart (Kelly) and Oona Laurence (Liz) had good chemistry together (and felt they had a very baby bi girl thing going on that was great).

It was mostly silly and PG but I liked how much it was actually directed like it was scary and there was something at stake. It didn't talk down to its target audience.

I went into this with pretty low expectations but enjoyed it much more than I expected to. It was fun!
posted by edencosmic at 5:48 PM on October 16, 2020

(and felt they had a very baby bi girl thing going on that was great).

Upon reading that this was directed by the director of Tank Girl, I definitely got a mini-Lori-Petty vibe from Liz.
posted by oh yeah! at 6:02 PM on October 16, 2020

I like to imagine this exists in the same universe as The Order and the babysitter group is just another magical society.
posted by Literaryhero at 4:00 PM on October 17, 2020