The Babysitter Murders

'The Babysitter Murders (2015)' is a short film that focuses on a young woman who finds herself at home alone on a night when a deranged killer has escaped from an asylum. It's a smart, subversive and thoroughly enjoyable affair that has a keen grasp on its audience and knows exactly what they're expecting. I won't spoil it, but its reveal is genuinely surprising and clever. The whole film is very genre-confident; it emulates its inspirations rather well. It's an entertaining experience right the way through. 8/10

Note: This short was included wholesale (and expanded on) in its director's later feature-length effort, 'The Mortuary Collection (2019)'. It's easily the best part about that picture. It is worth noting that I technically haven't seen this piece outside of this context, but feel comfortable in reviewing it because it is (from what I understand) unchanged from its original incarnation.

I saw this short film while in Estes Park, Colorado last month and it is very well done! Kudos to the team that put this together. Best short I have ever seen and it won the top awards (jury and audience) for shorts at the Stanley Film Festival. The movie within the movie concept is brilliant, the fighting scenes look very realistic and so interesting to see because they are between a man and woman, the film is shot in away that makes it timeless and has that classic feel to it and to know there are three more installments coming is exciting. The twist at the end is surprising which is refreshing in a time when most endings are predictable. Amazing to feel like you watched a full horror film in just 20 minutes. I would recommend seeing this short if you can!!

Have you ever experienced that, when attending a horror film festival, the supposedly unimportant short movie in between two screenings is actually a lot better than the long-feature viewings you bought expensive tickets for? This can either be due to the main features being weak and disappointing OR it could just be that the horror short in question is exceptionally great, and this is definitely the case for "The Babysitter Murders". Writer/director Ryan Spindell pretty much delivered the perfect homage to '80s horror in a mere twenty minutes, and simultaneously proved that he's more than ready – and capable – to direct long features or prominent TV-work. The uniquely cool short benefices from fast pacing, spirited performances, surefooted direction, excellent make-up effects and a traditional albeit very engaging slasher plot! The young, cute and blond babysitter is about to comfortably install herself in the sofa, with diner and a movie, when there's suddenly a bloodied guy standing in the living room. She heard on the radio that a deranged mental patient escaped from the nearby asylum, so undoubtedly he must have broken into the house! She's a feisty cat, though, and she courageously fights back with all the weaponry she can find in the kitchen in order to protect herself and the child… "The Babysitter Murders" has a twist-ending in store that is (arguably) rather predictable in case you're familiar with horror/cult cinema, but it nevertheless remains a fun twist that only makes the short movie even better than it already was. Another terrific aspect about this superior short horror flick is the parallel film-within- film sub plot. The battle between the babysitter and her assailant run parallel with the cheesy horror movie that the girl began watching on TV; which leads to a couple of refreshing scenes. My most sincere congratulations to Ryan Spindell and his entire cast & crew, as this is truly a fantastic little effort!