What I've learned from this is McG is a good director but he's only as good as his script. Which is why The Babysitter was a surprising, refreshing edition to the horror / comedy genre, and the sequel is kind of a let down. It has some funny moments, and McG's signature, flashy, music video style, but ultimately the plot is paper thin and all over the place, and essentially, a redo of the first movie. It's the same plot, most of the same characters, saying a lot of the same things, so, not particularly original. And the ending is cheesy and contrived. Basically, one person could write a better script in the original Babysitter, than 4 could write together in the sequel. Probably why Love & Monsters looks great, and Underwater was one of the most fun films of last year.
If I was 12, maybe this would go down for me as a cult classic, but, I'm not, so, it's just kind of meh. Judah Lewis is still very likable, and the new girl, his love interest is also likable. Not as good an actress as he is, but passable, and probably early in her career. That's another thing, Samara Weaving is a good part of the first film, and she has an endearing quality, like Lewis, so, you're pulled along for the ride. Essentially, you've got Judah and a bunch of side characters to carry the film, which makes it more like occasional fun vignettes, instead of an emotional ride. It's more like Dexter Morgan, sterile, fake emotion, so, audience is left not really caring whether Judah makes it out of this film alive. But I do need to mention that John and Juan get more screen time in the sequel, and they're pretty funny.
I did appreciate their Waxworks ambition, of a low budget that they make work. Like, the compositing matte scenes are pretty good for low budget. They would be garbage if this was Lord of the Rings or a big budget film, but probably most viewers wouldn't notice where scenery ends and a matte begins. The music is good...I think Bear McCreary, which did sound straight out of Halt and Catch Fire, but, hey, Paul Hasslinger doesn't get his due for a great show, so, I'm not mad at McCreary for ripping him a bit.
Overall, kinda fun, just don't set your bar as high as original, and maybe don't see them close together.
If I was 12, maybe this would go down for me as a cult classic, but, I'm not, so, it's just kind of meh. Judah Lewis is still very likable, and the new girl, his love interest is also likable. Not as good an actress as he is, but passable, and probably early in her career. That's another thing, Samara Weaving is a good part of the first film, and she has an endearing quality, like Lewis, so, you're pulled along for the ride. Essentially, you've got Judah and a bunch of side characters to carry the film, which makes it more like occasional fun vignettes, instead of an emotional ride. It's more like Dexter Morgan, sterile, fake emotion, so, audience is left not really caring whether Judah makes it out of this film alive. But I do need to mention that John and Juan get more screen time in the sequel, and they're pretty funny.
I did appreciate their Waxworks ambition, of a low budget that they make work. Like, the compositing matte scenes are pretty good for low budget. They would be garbage if this was Lord of the Rings or a big budget film, but probably most viewers wouldn't notice where scenery ends and a matte begins. The music is good...I think Bear McCreary, which did sound straight out of Halt and Catch Fire, but, hey, Paul Hasslinger doesn't get his due for a great show, so, I'm not mad at McCreary for ripping him a bit.
Overall, kinda fun, just don't set your bar as high as original, and maybe don't see them close together.