The Babysitter

1980 "She drove the mother mad. She seduced the father. Now, what's going to happen to little Tara?"
5.6| 1h36m| NR| en| More Info
Released: 28 November 1980 Released
Producted By: Moonlight Productions
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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Overprotective mother Liz Benedict meets 18-year-old orphan Joanna Redwine and hires her as house help and live-in companion to rambunctious daughter Tara. Liz's husband Jeff isn't too thrilled with the arrangement, and his fears soon prove justified when Joanna begins to manipulate everyone and to slowly destroy the family. Meanwhile, next-door neighbor Dr. Linquist investigates and discovers Joanna has a disturbing past.

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Director

Peter Medak

Production Companies

Moonlight Productions

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The Babysitter Audience Reviews

GazerRise Fantastic!
ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre
KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.
Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
azathothpwiggins A family is undermined by the cunning manipulation of a beautiful, young woman named Joanna (Stephanie Zimbalist). After insinuating herself into the family, she begins seducing the husband (William Shatner) and emotionally sabotaging the wife (Patty Duke). Knowing nothing of Joanna's extremely dark past, the family is unaware of just how dangerous she is, though the 12 year old daughter (Quinn Cummings) seems wiser than her clueless parents. Will they realize what Joanna is doing, before she causes irreparable damage, even death? Duke is great, and Shatner is less T.J. Kirk than usual. However, this is Zimbalist's movie, and she is the blackened sun at it's center. There's even a LEAVE HER TO HEAVEN moment on the lake! Mostly though, THE BABYSITTER prefigures the future POISON IVY, only in a more "family-friendly", made-for-TV form. Co-stars John Houseman as a doggedly suspicious neighbor...
TheBlueHairedLawyer I love these classic made-for-TV mysteries, and if you're like me, you'll love the Babysitter. 18-year-old Joanna Redwine has been in the foster care system nearly her entire life, and is one day hired by a troubled family to be the babysitter. The husband Jeff is a cheater, his wife Liz an alcoholic, and their 12 year old daughter Tara doesn't go to school, has very little social skills and acts very babyish for her age. Joanna seems like a great influence, and they also meet the next door neighbors, the kindly doctor and his grandson Scotty. Joanna however has killed her foster family at home and wrapped them in plastic, and will kill again if she doesn't get the perfect family she's been dreaming of... One thing very disappointing is that the eerie and beautiful soundtrack for this great movie was never separately released. All the actors/actresses were amazing, the film remained captivating 'till the end and to add even more creepiness to it, the girl Tara, although twelve years old, carries around her imaginary friend, a beaten up old rag-doll with its eyes ripped right out. That doll haunted me as a kid when I first saw this movie. It's really worth watching, you'll be happy you did!
the_running_paper_tiger People what's wrong with You?! How, in the nine hells, this movie got so high notes? Geez, this is complete no go. Don't waste neither Your money, nor Your time (as We all know 'time is money'). What I know for sure, is that They should hang'em all high - actors, actresses... o yeah and the script... and music.. There's nothing in this film that makes worth watching it. Yes, I know 'Romeo Is Bleeding' is a great movie, but 'the Babysitter' is Peter Medak's Waterloo. Last thing: There's as much suspense as in Beverly Hills 90210 or any similar crap.
Zorin-2 I bought the TV movie "The Babysitter" because of the director Peter Medak, who directed the "The Changeling", which in my opinion is one of the best horror movies ever made. After I watched "The Babysitter" I said to myself "What a waste of time." It was boring, there isn't any suspense or scares. All it is about is a troubled couple hiring a housesitter, not a babysitter, to clean house and make meals. The only problem is that she has a dark and closely guarded past. The copy that I bought now just sits on the shelf collecting dust. Check out Peter Medak's other film "The Changeling", It's much better.