5 Horror Movies That Prove Babysitters Need To Unionize
We all know babysitting is a stressful side hustle. Kids are a lot. Also, some parents encourage their offspring to be the problem. So, it’s an anxiety-inducing gig not for the faint of heart. That’s probably why babysitters are some of the best final girls in the genre. Halloween saw Michael Myers take out a few teens before he finally had to go toe to toe with professional babysitter Laurie Strode. That beef has continued in multiple timelines for over 40 years now. Sadly, that also makes these underpaid heroes targets in horror. Remember the friend who watched Andy in the original Child’s Play and went through a window for her efforts? How about the teen from Stir of Echoes whose charge started giving her messages from her dead sister?
The genre is filled with countless people who were not paid enough to be traumatized (if they were lucky enough to live). Horror movies are probably one of the many reasons I refuse to watch anyone’s creepy little kids. In this streaming guide, I will highlight five babysitters who are prime examples of why this profession needs a union today. Each of these poor souls reminds us that babysitters deserve benefits, hazard pay, and access to free mental health resources if they survive their work.
Check out these picks and remember these faces the next time someone asks you to watch their kid.
Better Watch Out (dir. Chris Peckover)
Where You Can Watch: Peacock, Philo, Plex, Pluto TV, The Roku Channel, and Tubi
A teen protecting her charge from a home invasion realizes the real danger is already in the home. Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) had no way of knowing her life was about to change when she arrived at this suburban home to watch a 12-year-old. Meanwhile, Luke (Levi Miller) has set up a night of horrors because he’s tired of her not taking his crush (obsession) seriously. This girl will never forget this night of torture, murder, or being groped by this kid who should be put in prison. This movie is supposed to be a horror comedy. However, I don’t see the humor in spending the evening with a young sociopath. I worry that a sequel would find Luke as a Fox News anchor about to run for President. This babysitter definitely wasn’t paid enough.
Fright (dir. Peter Collinson)
Where You Can Watch: Plex and Tubi
A babysitter is terrorized by a stranger. The man turns out to be the father of her charge, who has recently escaped from an asylum. Amanda (Susan George) arrived at this gig as a carefree college student and left a traumatized woman. This 1971 gem is one of the oldest babysitter-in-peril movies I have seen. Brian (Ian Bannen) not only frightens Amanda but also mixes her up with his ex-wife in his delusions. That opens up a whole new world of WTF as Amanda is forced to play along to survive this hellish night. This movie has an unexpected police standoff where Amanda takes matters into her own hands (because ACAB). This babysitter ended things here and will not be staying later or returning to collect her things. Hopefully, she sued someone because whatever she was supposed to be paid will not even cover the therapy she’ll need after this night.
The House of the Devil (dir. Ti West)
Where You Can Watch: AMC+, Fandango at Home, Peacock, Plex, Pluto TV, Prime Video, Shudder, and Tubi
A struggling college student in 1983 accepts an odd babysitting gig and discovers her clients have a sinister plan for her. Many bad things happen to babysitters in this genre. However, Samantha (Jocelin Donahue) might have the most upsetting story. Not too many of the girls on this list stumble into cult business and are forced to fight off people who want to impregnate them. This is my favorite Ti West movie. I fall more in love with these 80s vibes every rewatch. However, it is also nightmare fuel that definitely hits harder as AFAB people are being forced to give birth in this country. The House of the Devil was already chilling, but now it’s depressingly timely. The bleak ending also has new layers as we see people kept on life support for months because the country thinks fetuses should have more rights than people with ovaries.
Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (dir. Wes Craven)
Where You Can Watch: VOD
A malevolent being is using Freddy Krueger to force its way into the real world. The only person who may be able to stop it is Heather Langenkamp, who played Nancy in the movie that started it all. This meta moment is the best sequel in the franchise, and there is a lot of fun to be had with it. However, the poor babysitter Julie (Tracy Middendorf) got it worse than anyone else in this film. She basically got a remix of what happened to Tina in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is worse because Julie was awake, and her charge watched it all like a new episode of Dora the Explorer. All she did was check in on the creepy kid she sits for at the hospital. Julie went above and beyond for this family and ended up getting dragged around an ER room for her efforts.
When a Stranger Calls (dir. Fred Walton)
Where You Can Watch: Fandango at Home, Peacock, Philo, Plex, Pluto TV, Prime Video, The Roku Channel, Sling TV, and Tubi
A killer terrorizes a babysitter and then returns to finish the job seven years later. Jill Johnson (Carol Kane) is one of the first babysitters that came to mind while building this list. This isn’t the first time a young woman has discovered the call is coming from inside the house. However, it’s arguably the most effective. To make matters worse for this babysitter, the kids she tried to protect had been dead the whole time. So, she could’ve run for her life after the first call because there was nothing she could do. All of this is bad enough without the killer popping up almost a decade later to break into her own home. Can you imagine the person who ruined your job and traumatized you popping up in your home? Just recapping this chilling story is upsetting. Give babysitters free therapy and hazard pay immediately.
Let me know which babysitter in the genre had it the worst at Bluesky. While you’re there, you can also tell me your favorite for research purposes.
Categorized: Editorials Streaming Guides
