THE BABYSITTER: KILLER QUEEN. Jenna Ortega Joins In

The Babysitter is back! The 2017 Netflix film starring Samara Weaving in the title role has received a sequel, which, of course, you can also watch on the popular streaming platform. The main cast from the original returns for the continuation, and McG (Charlie’s Angels, Terminator Salvation) once again takes the director’s chair.

Two years after the events of the original film, Cole (again played by Judah Lewis) is still struggling to recover and move on after his horrific encounter with the cult. It’s not easy—no one believes his story, his fellow students continue to bully him, and his parents are planning to send him to a psychiatric institution. His escape from all these troubles is supposed to be a trip with his friend Melanie (Emily Alyn Lind, who also appeared in the first part). Unfortunately, during the weekend, the nightmare returns. Cole must once again face the resurrected former allies (Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Andrew Bachelor, and Hana Mae Lee all reprise their roles) of his now-dead babysitter.

The Babysitter: Killer Queen follows the original film’s plot structure but first adds new threads (such as a broader role for Cole’s parents and a new student at the main character’s school) and second, goes for a much bigger scale. Despite feeling a little repetitive, the movie still manages to surprise, but above all, it entertains just as much. If you enjoyed the humor from the first installment, you’ll definitely find something to love here as well. The exaggerated characters, gallons of blood, and playful use of the slasher genre are all back in full force. In the finale, the creators even manage to tie both parts together with a (somewhat sentimental) narrative loop, proving that the writers’ ambitions went beyond just delivering a simple rehash.

As in the first film, the cast remains one of the movie’s greatest strengths, fitting perfectly into the chosen style. Judah Lewis is a genuinely strong protagonist (which is a relief—young actors can sometimes quickly lose their childhood charm), while Emily Alyn Lind and Jenna Ortega competently fill the gap left by the incredible Samara Weaving (Ready or Not). I also happily welcomed the return of the demonic gang portrayed by Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Andrew Bachelor, and Hana Mae Lee, who once again clearly had a blast with their absurd characters. Ken Marino (the film protagonist’s father) also steps into a more prominent role, once again proving he feels at home in comedic territory.

The film’s visuals also leave a strong impression. You can clearly feel the bigger scope: the director indulges in even more (including a fight scene styled like a 2D fighting game — wow!), the characters move freely between different locations, and everything is captured with fantastic cinematography that embraces neon colors reminiscent of the ’80s.

If you know and liked the first film, The Babysitter: Killer Queen offers the same set of attractions — a wild mix of teen drama, black comedy, horror, and slasher elements. The movie makes several references to James Cameron’s Terminator films, which gives a clear hint about the approach the creators took. The sequel uses the same plot structure as the original but tightens the screws, hits the gas pedal, and takes us on an even crazier, bloodier, and more spectacular ride.

I had a blast. Just like I did with the original Babysitter. And I’ll happily return to this world again, especially since a mid-credits scene in Killer Queen already hints at another installment. Fingers crossed it gets made.