The Babysitter's Seduction

I had not previously encountered this film, but I faintly recall its cover from my childhood on TV or VHS at the rental shop (God, to think these are no more). There are several similar titles available on Tubi that I remember seeing on the covers of VHS, although I was too young to watch them at the time. However, I am now able to appreciate them and am thoroughly enjoying the experience. This film embodies many characteristics of early 90s thrillers and made-for-television movies. During that era, it was quite popular to feature narratives involving older men and school-aged girls, as seen in productions such as "Poison Ivy," among others. However, this particular film presented a somewhat different perspective. Although it was watchable, it lacked excitement and was predictable in its plot development. Nonetheless, it served its purpose of providing entertainment and gave me the opportunity to see Tobin Bell in a non-horror role, which is primarily how I know him. Overall, while it may not have been exceptional, it was certainly more enjoyable than many other films I have encountered.

Arian Waring Ash looks pretty fantastic in this flick. It's sort of beneath Keri Russell to do this movie, but at least the director seems to understand that if Keri is looking good, it's not a waste of anyone's time. And indeed, she is looking good here. I'm not even a Keri Russell fan. I found the comment about the dog doing the best acting amusing, but it's not true. Keri's acting is good. Even Keri's kid brother turns in a respectable performance, and he has what, ten lines? If you didn't like Phylicia/Mrs. Cosby's performance, you might ask yourself why so much of her energy and style here is duplicated by Khandi/Ms. Talk Radio six years later in CSI Miami. It's actually too bad that there isn't a longer theater-cut of this thing, because it does capture Ms. Russell in what must be her peak bloom, and that's not at all a bad thing. Shame shame shame on casting directors for failing to see this as an audition for the sidekick, Arian Ash, and not turning her into a big star. But who knows? maybe she was beaten out by Love Hewitt for all the subsequent roles, and that's not a bad thing either. This movie probably got pitched as a "let's take all that sexual energy from the Yale babysitter in Mystic Pizza and take it to its logical conclusion" and hey, that's a pretty good idea. At least i don't feel as dirty at the end as I do whenever I see Blame It On Rio. Incidentally, Demi Moore was the sidekick in that one, and someone DID see that and turn her into a star.

The story and plot sound rather like a typical Lifetime drama, where they combine realism within the plot and add in a few dramatic elements for effect. It's not nearly as erotic or suspenseful thrilling as it could have been- considering this is possibly PG-13 as they had restrictions.

It certainly starts off as you would expect with seeing the death scene of the wife (which is the synopsis and key plot- not a spoiler). The central plot is about how she died as it's framed as a suicide. But we know it's a murder. Certainly predictably where we expect it to be the husband who did it. As further watching, they casually throw away the reveal where it isn't shocking.

The standout is Keri Russell who made her character believable once she got confortable to the portrayal. Stephen Collins was just right for his role, playing the father who "seduces" Russell.

The conclusion was somewhat of a letdown all be it still entertaining enough. Where things unfold predictably. There's a 'cat and mouse' game within the finale which was bizarrely done and didn't make much sense considering why Collin's didn't make it more difficult for Russell to escape. It's as if he wanted her to escape. Also her escaping was rather unrealistic.

In the end, she gets away. The cops of course show up as they arrest him (seemingly he's okay after being stabbed). The film isn't anything special. The concept and Keri Russell make it worthwhile for a Lifetime 90's film and the scenery is solid as well. Perhaps slightly better than expected.

This movie was good... the plot drew you in and the characters did as well. But i must say i squirmed whenever Stephen Collins and Keri Russel locked lips. It was just disturbing to see a nearly 50 year old man at the time and a just turned 20 year old kiss... however, these two great actors made it seem realistic. The ending was predictable but the parts leading up to it kept you on the edge of your seat. I recommend that you try to catch this movie on lifetime. It was better then what you would expect from a tv movie

This was a fairly watchable film. Stephen Collins' character came across as a very nice person, and as with any good mystery, one kept guessing for a while as to "whodunnit," after the other suspect was introduced. (Although once the killer became known, we entered into silly potboiler territory.) I thought Ms. Rashad made for a good detective. And our heroine was very winning. As for the older man-younger woman hook-up that a few reviewers found repulsive, such an outlook is really a curious state of the times. Our extremely youth-oriented society has brainwashed the masses into rejecting practically everyone who is over thirty; it's as though you either must cease to exist as a sexual being once you reach a certain age, or you must only be confined to partnering with one in your own age bracket. Even if there's a young person of legal, consenting age, people have now been trained to believe -- perhaps because the media has sometimes built the sex offender issue to a fever pitch, and some people think they are doing their "moral duty" -- there is something unethical about an age gap between lovers. I just watched the 1937 movie, ALGIERS, where the young and beautiful Hedy Lamarr was engaged to an older ogre of a man who was much more hideous than Stephen Collins, and yet the alliance seemed fairly natural; yes, in this case, she was in it for his money (an allure for our heroine in "The Babysitter's Seduction" as well, although the babysitter did develop genuine feelings for the man), but that was Hedy Lamarr's choice, just as it was Anna Nicole Smith's in real life, years later. Stepping aside from the lure of the sugar daddy, and entering the realm of genuinely "equal" relationships, it's a pity people have become uptight, and regard age as more than a number. Years back, there was more normalcy about accepting older people as regular human beings.