Brian Duffield – Tripping Through Gateways

So, this was a film that seemed to get a lot of doubt cast its way before it opened. It had a lot going against it. There is a group of people out there dedicated to just hating on Kristen Stewart due to her role in Twilight. The film sat on the shelf for nearly three years.

But I was still curious from that first trailer…I love a good creature feature. Especially undersea monster films. And so I refused to let the naysayers get me down. And you know what?

This is a good deep sea creature feature. It kicks in with the action right away, and keeps things moving quickly. The characters are not all that complex, and if the film slowed down much, that could be a problem. But it really only pauses to set you up for what is about to take place or clarify what has happened. I really had fun watching the film and it is effective in all the ways I wanted, with enough of mystery surrounding the monsters that I was curious to learn more.

It is a strong film that accomplishes what it needs to in a way that should appeal to any creature feature fan.

Cole is in Junior High. Almost everyone picks on him and seem determined to make his life hell. His two lights in the darkness? His friend Melanie and his Babysitter. Bee is the toughest, funniest, sexiest and all around coolest girl in school. She also stands up for Cole and is able to interact with him on his geeky level.

One night, he sneaks out of his room to spy on Bee and her friends. Except what he thinks is some exciting fun turns out to be murder and satanic rituals. Bee and her friends sacrifice another young man. When they realize Cole knows what they have done, it becomes a battle for survival.

At no point is the film scary, with a heavier focus on humor and action. The film does a great job of playing up why Cole is into Bee. She never seems deceitful, and Samara Weaving comes across as both likable and attractive. The film definitely plays up some of it’s campier elements (the deaths are over the top).

The Babysitter is an entertaining horror comedy in the vein of Tucker and Dale vs Evil. It stays focused on the goofiness of it’s concept (never succumbing to pretentious ideas that it is more meaningful than it is).

Tag: Brian Duffield

Quick Dive (Underwater, 2020)

Adventures In Babysitting (the Babysitter, 2017)