The Babysitter's Seduction

The movie felt a bit longer than it should have been, kind of boring at times. The twists were decent fun. Keri Russell delivers a solid performance as Michelle, a babysitter caught in a web of lies and suspicion after the sudden death of her employer's wife. While the plot has its moments of intrigue, it leans heavily on predictable tropes typical of 90s thrillers. The pacing drags in parts, but the cast, including Stephen Collins and Phylicia Rashad, adds depth. Not groundbreaking, but it's watchable for fans of Lifetime-style dramas. An alright movie overall, something perfect for when you need something to watch and it doesn't really matter what.

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.

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.

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.

"The Babysitter's Seduction" makes a nifty little TV thriller. It starts out as a very good mystery with absolutely no suspects in who killed Bill Bartrand's wife and made it look like a suicide. Then we begin getting suspect after suspect. Alas, the identity of the culprit is given away much too soon. Director David Burton Morris must rely on suspense, chills, and thrills for the rest of the film. As the movie progresses one wonders if the babysitter is seducing Bill Bartrand or if Bill Bartrand is seducing the babysitter. Slowly we get the drift of what is really taking place. This part of the story is well written and directed. Some reviewers found it repulsive and unbelievable that a 50 year old man and a 20 year old woman (in the movie 40 and l8) could get it on. Have they not heard of sugar daddies and now sugar mamas? The babysitter wants to fill the dead wife's shoes, car, house, jewelry, and become the mother of her two children. Because of this, she doesn't see what others see, especially Det. Kate Jacobs, until it is almost too late. The final scenes in Bill Bartrand's house are edge of the seat suspense, particularly for a television movie.

The acting is above average for a TV movie. Keri Russell made her character believable once she got warmed up to the part. Stephen Collins was just right for his role, a charming creep who becomes very menacing. I prefer seeing Tobin Bell as a heavy, but he does fine as Bill Bartrand's detective friend. They played football together in school and he was close to Bartrand's wife.