The Babysitter

The Babysitter

Year: 1980

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter Medak

DramaTV MovieThriller

She drives the mother mad and seduces the father, leaving Tara’s future in doubt. Liz Benedict hires 18‑year‑old orphan Joanna Redwine as a house helper for daughter Tara. Jeff, Liz’s husband, is uneasy as Joanna manipulates the family, while neighbor Dr. Linquist investigates and uncovers her disturbing past.

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Timeline & Setting – The Babysitter (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Babysitter (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Seattle, Washington

Seattle serves as the domestic backdrop for the Benedict family's relocation from Chicago. The city provides an urban, waterfront setting where social gatherings and a boat outing become pivotal to the plot. The home and neighborhood become a claustrophobic stage for hidden pasts, manipulation, and danger.

🏙️ Urban 🗺️ Pacific Northwest 🛥️ Waterfront

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:43

Main Characters – The Babysitter (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Babysitter (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Liz Benedict (Patty Duke)

A stressed mother who seeks help from Joanna but gradually falls under her influence. Her commitment to sobriety is tested as Joanna's manipulation worsens the family's strain. The character's vulnerability creates a fragile emotional core amid mounting tension.

🧠 Psychological 🏠 Domestic 🍷 Addiction

Dr. Jeff Benedict (William Shatner)

A husband who initially resists Joanna's influence but later succumbs to temptation, undermining trust within the family. His denial of the danger is punctuated by moments of remorse and attempts to regain control. His choices contribute to the unraveling of trust within the family.

💬 Relationship 🧭 Trust ⚖️ Morality

Tara Benedict (Quinn Cummings)

The 12-year-old daughter caught between her mother's stress and Joanna's calculated attention. She becomes a pawn in the power struggle, yet displays resilience as she navigates danger in her home. The character embodies innocence that is threatened by hidden threats.

👧 Family 🛡️ Protection 🧩 Trust

Joanna Redwine (Stephanie Zimbalist)

An 18-year-old nanny with a mysterious past, Joanna skillfully blends charm with manipulation. She seduces Jeff, undermines Liz's confidence, and pursues control through fear and secrecy. Her past includes foster experiences and a rumored killing, making her a dangerous wildcard.

🪄 Manipulation 🗝️ Secret past ⚠️ Threat

Doc Lindquist (John Houseman)

The Benedicts' wary neighbor who investigates Joanna's background, driven by a gut feeling that something is dangerously wrong. His persistence clashes with Liz's denial, creating tension and a moral counterpoint to the family.

🕵️ Suspicion 🧭 Investigation 🧩 Clues

Mrs. Welford (Virginia Kiser)

A former foster caregiver who warns Doc away and reveals a dark past about Joanna. Her information heightens the stakes and underscores Joanna's danger.

⚖️ Risk 🪶 Warning 🪦 Past

Scotty (David Wallace)

Doc's grandson who becomes a focal point in Joanna's dangerous games after a boating incident. His presence anchors the tension between curiosity and danger.

🧒 Youth 🧭 Innocence 🛟 Rescue

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:43

Major Themes – The Babysitter (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Babysitter (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Manipulation

Joanna's manipulation of Liz and Jeff threads through the narrative, turning everyday routines into instruments of control. She engineers trust by exploiting vulnerabilities and partial truths about her past. The film explores how easily affection and domestic normalcy can be weaponized when someone hides dangerous motives. The result is a chilling descent from affection to fear within a seemingly ordinary family.

🕵️ Suspicion

Doc Lindquist's cautious examination of Joanna's past serves as a counterpoint to the family's denial. His investigation, aided by glimpses of a troubling past and inconsistent stories, raises questions about what really happened before the Benedicts. Social services records and family secrecy collide with maternal instincts and fear. The mounting suspicion keeps the audience guessing about the true danger at hand.

🌊 Danger on the Water

A tranquil boat outing becomes a deadly turning point when Joanna's negligence leads to Scotty's injury and Tara's pleas go unanswered. The sea setting intensifies the stakes, turning a family outing into a perilous ordeal. The confrontation between Joanna and the family unfolds amid waves, revealing how far she will go to maintain control. The climax hinges on the moment of truth aboard and in the house as authorities arrive.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:43

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The Babysitter Summary

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The Babysitter Summary

The Babysitter Timeline

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The Babysitter Timeline

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The Babysitter (1980) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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The Babysitter (1980) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow