Saturday evening after the customary board and card games a friend and I settled in and watched The Babysitter on Netflix. I had seen the preview but my friends went in cold know only that it was a horror/comedy. Horror/Comedy is a tough gig to get correct, but I think The Babysitter landed pretty much on target.

The Babysitter stars Samara Weaving, (Ready or Night, Picnic at Hanging Rockthe Series) as the titular character babysitter Bee but the protagonist of the piece is 12-year-old Cole. A young geeky boy fearful of nearly everything and foundering in the turbulent seas of adolescence. Bee and Cole have a terrific relationship with Bee giving Cole many important life lessons. However, on a weekend when his parent have left for him for a few days in Bee’s care and encouraged by a friend, Cole stays up past his bedtimes to discover just what it is that Bee does when he is asleep. The answer turns out to be leading a Satanic Cult complete with human sacrifices. Cole is thrust in a life and death conflict with the cult while coming to terms with his own fears and his shattered relationship with Bee.

The Babysitter is absurdist comedy with director McG taking liberal advantage of the screen format to play with expectations. Despite the over the top nature of the premise and the comedy McG and the screenwriters Brian Duffield take the time to ensure that every payoff is well established before its on screen arrival, delivering an enjoyable romp about growing up and learning to face and conquer your fears.

While there is a fair amount of fake blood used in this production the violence is more cartoonish than slasher and this is a movie well worth streaming.