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Year: 2016
Runtime: 80 min
Language: English
Director: Michael Thelin
When their parents leave for a night on the town, three Thompson siblings - Jacob, Christopher, and Sally - are initially thrilled with their new babysitter Anna's carefree nature. But as the evening wears on, her playful facade gives way to a sinister intent, leaving the kids to confront the dark reality of their unsettling sitter and her true, terrifying purpose.
Warning: spoilers below!
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In the opening sequence, we meet a young girl named Anna, who is tasked with babysitting, but her plans are abruptly interrupted when she is attacked by the dangerous duo known as Emelie and Skinny Man before she can even reach her destination. Taking advantage of the situation, Emelie assumes Anna’s identity and gains access to the home where the kids she intends to babysit reside. These children include the playful 4-year-old Christopher, the imaginative 9-year-old Sally, and the eldest sibling, 11-year-old Jacob.
At first, Emelie puts on a facade of sweetness and charm, behaving as any caring babysitter would until their parents leave for a night out. Once they are gone, her unsettling behavior begins to surface, revealing her true nature. For instance, she discourages Sally from smiling during a costume photoshoot, casting a shadow over what should be a fun moment. During a seemingly innocent game of hide-and-seek, Emelie engages in more sinister activities – she disables the internet, removes the shoelaces from the kids’ sneakers, and even breaks into the parents’ safe.
Emelie’s manipulation escalates when she calls Jacob into the bathroom under the pretense of needing a new tampon, flustering the young boy when he innocently asks what it is. To his horror, he witnesses Emelie unwrapping it and using it right in front of him, flushing away the remnants with grotesque nonchalance. Meanwhile, Dan, the father, and Joyce, the mother, enjoy dinner where Dan hints at discussing “the talk” with Jacob, alluding to his journey into adolescence and viewing adult content.
As Emelie continues her reign of chaos, she allows the children to indulge recklessly, munching on cookies and drawing all over the walls. She goes as far as feeding Sally’s pet hamster to Jacob’s python, forcing Sally to watch in despair. In a shocking turn, Emelie even shows the children their parents’ intimate moments captured on video, leaving them traumatized. As Jacob rummages through Emelie’s belongings, he uncovers the unsettling truth that she is not who she claims to be, igniting a fear as he realizes the depths of her depravity.
At bedtime, Emelie spins a twisted tale to comfort Christopher and Sally, narrating the story of a mama bear who lost her cub and eventually encountered Skinny Hyena, a character analogous to Skinny Man. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Emelie relates to the mama bear; a tragic incident led to the suffocation of her baby, leaving her unable to have more children. Now, she is seen at a nearby playground, stalking potential new victims, revealing her intentions through a message she sends to Skinny Man that indicates she has found her “cub.”
In a dramatic confrontation, Jacob brandishes his father’s gun, facing Emelie, who dares him to pull the trigger. However, he falters and drops the weapon. Their moment of tension is interrupted by the doorbell, revealing Maggie, the kids’ regular babysitter, who has come looking for Anna after not hearing from her. In a tragic twist, Emelie subdues Maggie, knocking her out and further entrenching her control over the children as she forces them to drink a sedative.
As the children succumb to sleep, Emelie attempts to suffocate Jacob, who has managed to vomit up the syrup meant to keep him quiet. Just then, Maggie regains consciousness and fights to protect the children, but tragically, Emelie kills her. Emelie’s plan becomes clear as she aims to abduct Christopher to fill the void in her life, but Jacob maneuvers to keep him hidden. Frantically, Emelie communicates with Skinny Man, indicating that time is running out for her sinister plans.
As Dan and Joyce drive home, they become victims of a crash orchestrated by Skinny Man, who sacrifices himself to further Emelie’s dream of adopting a new child. The police later reveal to the distraught parents that the body of Anna has been found in the trunk of his vehicle, igniting their desperate rush home. Meanwhile, Jacob heroically loads his brother and sister into his dad’s car and, in a bold move, collides with Emelie just as she is aiming a gun at him.
In the climactic finale, the police arrive just in time for a reunion of the children with their parents, amidst the chaos surrounding Emelie, who, in her desperation, limps away from the scene, leaving behind the destruction she caused. The chilling events of that night reveal not only the horrors of her actions but also the resilience of the children who fought to survive.
Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04
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