Caregiver

The plot of 'Caregiver' is quite clichéd, but the film itself ends up being rather likable despite this. Paige (Åsa Wallander) is a new staff member at a halfway house for teenage girls whose sweetness and light exterior belies her dark true nature. The girls themselves fall into various stereotypes of delinquent teenagers, and are portrayed with varying levels of acting talent. Rebeka Montoya (Monique) is the stand-out, both in terms of beauty and ability, while Kali Hawk is also appealing as Tania.

The film isn't perfect, by any means. The flash backs are a little too obvious, Paige's background is a little too trite and the presence of one character, Krysta, (played by Jeanie Marie, who seems to be better known for more adult entertainment) seems a gratuitous excuse to have a woman wandering around completely naked for a bit. But as straight-to-video movies go, you could do a lot worse. Despite its flaws, it somehow manages to remain entertaining, provided that the viewer watches in the right spirit.

All in all, 'Caregiver' is an entertaining horror/thriller that is worth a try if you stumble upon it on DVD.

Paige starts a new job as a care giver for a home for delinquent and troubled girls. All are there for a reason and have suffered emotional turmoil in their pasts. Paige is of a quiet, caring disposition and feels that guiding the girls gently will lead to the best hopes for rehabilitation and security. It is not long before she has to take a "firmer" approach.

This film reminded me a bit of Joseph Ruben's 1987 The Stepfather. Someone who comes across all sweetness and light, but in reality is the main perpetrator of the violence on the screen.

The story is quite good and the performances aren't too bad. A special mention must go to a piece of music that is played throughout the film called "shed no tears". It is a choral piece and is genuinely haunting and added great empathy to a suicide scene. Worth the price of admission alone.

The director Dennis Divine is still working in the horror film business today (and previous to this).

Some gore included, but not over the top. A solid effort.