Released in October 2020, this Netflix original follows the story of Kelly Ferguson, a teenager whose child nightmares come back to haunt her as she babysits five-year-old Jacob. Like Kelly, Jacob possesses the unique power to bring his nightmares to life leading to a spooky night of adventure. Based on Joe Ballarini's three-book series, the adaptation incorporates eerie visuals with a Scooby-Doo/Spy Kids-esque narrative.
Despite being released as a kids film, Tom Felton's (yes.....Malfoy) performance as the Grand Guignol is at times quite terrifying. His presence as the evil boogeyman was convincing until the film began to diverge from the plot's evil narrative. At times his character was similar to Pennywise, with the comedic aspects of the film making him appear funny instead of scary.
'A Baby Sitter's Guide to Monster Hunting' is visually appealing, with Carrie Grace's costume design helping to elevate the film's spooky tones. Tamara Smart and Oona Laurence are convincing in their roles as Kelly and Liz, providing strong lead performances as they try to rescue Jacob from the Grand Guignol who plans to release his nightmares into the world. Overall, this film does contain cliche moments typical of a children's Halloween film, but I did enjoy the moments leading up to the film's conclusion. If you are a fan of 'Spy Kids' then you'll like this but don't expect a complex narrative or anything too ground-breaking or spectacular. Overall, 'A Baby Sitter's Guide to Monster Hunting' is a film designed to appeal to a younger audience but is an enjoyable film for all ages.
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'A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting'- 3/5
' A Baby Sitter's Guide to Monster Hunting' Directed by: Rachel Talalay, Starring: Tamara Smart, Oona Laurence, Tom Felton, Indya Moore. Production: The Montecito Picture Company Walden Media, Distributed by: Netflix
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