Reviews: The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) Movie Review
Subgenres: Comedy, Psychological, Slasher, Survival, Thriller, Cult, Home Invasion, Revenge, Satanic, Suburbs, Teens
Where does The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) stand among horror films? Our review examines the scares, pacing, and what makes it unique in the genre.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) picks up two years after the events of The Babysitter (2017), with Cole (Judah Lewis) still traumatized by his encounter with a satanic blood cult led by his babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving). No one believes his story, and he’s now navigating the struggles of high school while dealing with the lingering trauma. When he decides to escape to a lakeside party with his childhood friend Melanie (Emily Alyn Lind), he quickly realizes that the nightmare isn’t over—the cult is back from the dead, seeking revenge and fresh sacrifices.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020) – A Bloody, Over-the-Top Sequel That Struggles to Recapture the Magic
Plot, Themes, and Character Development
The film leans heavily into meta-humor, self-awareness, and absurdity, taking an even more cartoonish approach than its predecessor. While the original blended comedy, horror, and heart, this sequel loses focus, prioritizing excessive gore and pop-culture references over character development.
Cole’s growth as a protagonist is underwhelming, as he’s still playing the role of a timid outcast, despite proving himself in the first film. Newcomer Phoebe (Jenna Ortega) adds a refreshing dynamic, but the returning villains are reduced to caricatures, losing much of their original charm.
Acting and Cinematography
Judah Lewis delivers a decent performance, but his character’s regression makes it harder to invest in his arc. Jenna Ortega is the film’s highlight, bringing charisma and depth as the rebellious newcomer, Phoebe. Meanwhile, Emily Alyn Lind as Melanie fails to convince in her expanded antagonist role, feeling forced and one-dimensional.
The returning cast (Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Andrew Bachelor, and Hana Mae Lee) bring back their over-the-top antics, but their limited screen time and predictable jokes diminish their impact. Samara Weaving’s absence for most of the film is glaringly felt, making the sequel feel hollow compared to its predecessor.
Visually, The Babysitter: Killer Queen is flashy and chaotic, embracing a music-video aesthetic with exaggerated neon lighting, hyper-stylized kills, and rapid-cut editing. While this fits the film’s over-the-top tone, it also makes the action sequences feel incoherent and repetitive.
Directing Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses
Director McG doubles down on the over-the-top campy fun, but the result feels more exhausting than entertaining. The meta-humor, fourth-wall breaking, and self-aware dialogue quickly become tiresome, lacking the sharp wit of the first film. Instead of enhancing the comedy-horror blend, the humor often undercuts tension, making the stakes feel nonexistent.
Strengths:
- Jenna Ortega’s performance – A standout addition to the franchise.
- Creative kill sequences – Some gory, inventive deaths for slasher fans.
- High-energy pacing – Keeps the film moving at a brisk speed.
Weaknesses:
- Over-reliance on forced humor – Lacks the balance of the original.
- Weak character development – Cole’s arc is stagnant, and the villains lack depth.
- Melanie’s forced villain role – Feels unnatural and unconvincing.
- Loses the heart of the original – Feels more like a parody than a proper sequel.
Final Verdict: 5/10
The Babysitter: Killer Queen tries to up the ante with more gore, jokes, and absurdity, but it ultimately feels like a diluted version of its predecessor. While Jenna Ortega shines, the lack of a strong emotional core and over-reliance on forced humor make it an underwhelming sequel. Horror-comedy fans may find some enjoyment, but it lacks the originality and charm that made the first film so fun.
Sources Used to Shape This Review
Insights in this review are drawn from director interviews, fan commentary, production notes, and long-form breakdowns across genre-specific platforms. Content is written uniquely and reviewed for accuracy.
- The Babysitter: Killer Queen Rating Scores
- Our Score: 5/10
- Overall Score: 4.48/10
- IMDB: 5.8/10
- MetaCritic: 2.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 4.6/10
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