The Babysitter: Killer Queen
by McG
Sequels can be tricky. Sometimes we get something that rivals the original and sometimes we get a lot of fan service and not much else. The Babysitter: Killer Queen kinda fell in the middle, making it a fair companion piece to the first one. I'm going to try and keep this review spoiler free, but I do kinda spoil the first one, so tread carefully.
It's been two years since Cole spent that fateful night with his Satanic babysitter, Bee. He's now faced with the even scarier experience, being a junior in high school. Not only does Cole have to deal with the movie idea of what being a teenager is like, but everyone thinks he's crazy. Nobody believes his story of a Satan worshiping blood cult. He's been put on a litany of anti-psychotics and his parents are thinking of sending him to a special high school for disturbed teens. The only person that is on Cole's side is his best friend/crush/girl next door, Melanie, who also happened to be the final girl in the first film.
One day a new student shows up. Her name is Phoebe and she is a stereotypical "bad girl" trope. She even has the same tattoo as Bee, a black cat. She screams antagonist. There's rumors about how she killed her parents. Phoebe is the one who you just know is going to start trouble. Melanie begs Cole to ditch school to come hang out at the lake with her and the rest of her friends, just to get away and do something fun and normal. Cole reluctantly goes and ends up in that same situation he was in two years ago, running away from the same Satanic blood cult that will do anything to get what they want.
Like I said at the beginning, I feel like this movie is a good companion to the first one. The first one was super fun and this one is too. It was full of enough fan service to satisfy that need and it brought in new elements that made it refreshing. The comedy was spot on. The effects were good and gory. It's a great example of a well-blended horror comedy just like the first.
The only down side besides Bella Thorne's performance was the ending. I know that this is soft horror, but that ending was a little too soft for me. It wasn't so bad it ruined the movie, but it did make me feel kind of let down. Maybe even a little disappointed. Just a little.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen is a fun sequel that stays true to the feel of the first one. I wouldn't even mind a revisit to this franchise later on. Maybe when Cole is in college. Both of the movies are on Netflix and could make for some lighthearted spookies this October. Pop some corn, ask the babysitter if you can stay up past your bedtime, and check them both out!
Robin Thompson, HMS