The Sitter (TV 1991)

The sitter is an exciting thriller about an insane schizophrenic (Nell) who goes babysitting after throwing her mother down the stairs! She is completely delusional and thinks that the girl... See full summary »

Director:

Rick Berger

Writers:

Charlotte Armstrong (book), Rick Berger (teleplay)

Stars:

Kim Myers, Brett Cullen, Susan Barnes

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kim Myers	...	Nell
Brett Cullen	...	Jeff Harper
Susan Barnes	...	Alice
Kimberly Cullum	...	Melissa Jones
Susanne Reed	...	Ruth Jones
James McDonnell	...	Dennis Jones
Eugene Roche	...	Carl
Patricia George	...	Winona
Maria Richwine	...	Mary (as María Montoya)
Adolfo Quinones	...	Nick (as Shabba-Doo)
Gregory White
Dennis Paladino
Tyler Bowe
Jeff Jeffcoat
Frank Isles

Storyline

The sitter is an exciting thriller about an insane schizophrenic (Nell) who goes babysitting after throwing her mother down the stairs! She is completely delusional and thinks that the girl she is babysitting is her daughter. She causes a lot of trouble including killing a dog and murdering her step father and a maid who she thought would tell on her!

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Plot Keywords:

remake | based on book

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 June 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Babysitter, A Noite do Delírio

Company Credits

Production Co:

FNM Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of Don't Bother to Knock (1952)

User Reviews

A gripping thriller, but a flawed remake

I first caught this on television ten years ago and loved it - although in hindsight I was too young to watch it. It was a fantastic story, and very scary (especially if you're still at the age where you have babysitters!) Kim Myers turned in a wonderful performance as Nell. The character is definately a nut, but you do feel sorry for her. That's not an easy thing to pull off, and honestly the only other film I can think of that does accomplish this is Stephen King's Carrie. (Granted, Kim Myers is no Sissy Spacek, but she does a dang good job!)

I've noticed there are many reviewers here that ask the question "who would hire a babysitter that they've known for five minutes?" I'm sorry to have to say it, but several. I myself babysat all the time when I was in highschool, and often for complete strangers. I knew the children a lot better than I ever knew the parents, and the situation with Nell entering the hotel room for the first time is a scene that I've lived through hundreds of times. The parents, rushed to make an engagement see a clean-cut, respectable looking girl, and feel safe in entrusting their children to them. Talk about scary.

However, I have to say, this film does fall short from it's original. I didn't know this for years, but "The Sitter" is quite obviously a remake of Marilyn Monroe's "Don't Bother to Knock." As fond as I am of this version, I have to say Monroe's was ten times better. Richard Widmark and Anne Bancroft were fabulous supporting players and Marilyn gave a hugely understated performance. The supporting players in this fell short, and I thought the violence was overdone. This updated version is scary, but watch the original for a side of Monroe you've never seen.