Horror movies centered around holidays are always a great time. While Halloween is clearly the most fitting holiday for the occasion, there are also a plethora of horror films revolving around Christmas. Some are genuine classics, like 1974's Black Christmas which practically started the slasher genre. Others like 1997's Jack Frost are maybe worth a skip.
Five years ago one quiet Christmas horror movie slid somewhat under the radar. With a first-time director and an up-and-coming cast, the Australian-made film Better Watch Out has picked up some steam since its initial release as it's appeared on streaming sites like Shudder and Tubi. Horror fans especially have been eating this up as it's completely different from what so many viewers go in expecting, and it's becoming a must-watch for the Christmas season.
The film is set around the Christmas season and follows a babysitter named Ashley who is about to leave town for good. The boy she is babysitting, 12-year-old Luke, is a regular client of hers so the night should go routinely. Unfortunately, Ashley and Luke, as well as his silly friend Garrett, start to notice some strange and spooky things that might indicate they're in danger. The film is so much more than that, but those are all the details that should be known before going in for a watch. Better Watch Out is a surprising rollercoaster ride of a film, and going in blind will give the most satisfying result. Just know, it's worth it.
If you want to watch the movie, stop here. Otherwise, spoilers for Better Watch Out ahead.
The Big Twist
The standout feature of Better Watch Out and why so many people think it's a great movie is its big twist and how it's crafted. Basically, the entire beginning of the film is setting itself up to be something that it isn't. However, that setup is so well written and natural-seeming that the average viewer going in blind probably won't see the change-up coming. Once it's all revealed, which doesn't take all that long, little clues given in the beginning start to make sense and the tone of the movie is completely different.
What the twist reveals, is a secret villain. After Ashley finds out that Luke staged a home invasion with his friend Garrett to scare and eventually impress her because of a crush, she's justifiably angry. However, Luke lashes out and attacks Ashley, tying her up and holding her hostage. It's revealed that the true danger all along, was Luke. He's a 12-year-old psychopath and after this point, the rest of the film is spent with Ashley trying to escape his grasps as he psychologically and physically tortures her and a couple of friends who show up.
Once the initial twist happens, it's really hard to pinpoint where this movie is going to go. So many things happen and there are still multiple little twists and reveals. The ride is up and down, very entertaining and easy to get invested in, and will be enjoyed by many. It's also a good play on the "The Babysitter & The Man Upstairs" story, which was paid homage to somewhat in Black Christmas and very overtly in When A Stranger Calls.
An Amazing Cast
The cast of Better Watch Out, which is largely held down by the teen and pre-teen characters, is stellar. The heroine of the story is played by Olivia DeJonge. The character is meant to be a kind of "all-American" girl. Very sweet, she's moving to the big city, and of course, she's beautiful with many suitors. DeJonge nails this role and plays it so convincingly, totally embodying that familiar type of character. She's very endearing and believable, making it easy to root for her survival.
Luke and Garrett are played respectively by Levi Miller and Ed Oxenbould. Oxenbould and Olivia DeJonge actually previously played siblings in M. Night Shyamalan's The Visit. Though they aren't in quite as close of quarters in this film, they have a few interactions that are really sweet. Oxenbould also plays the role of the goofy, dumb, friend very well and is a great comic relief of the film. Miller is also a standout in this film and is maybe one to watch in the future. He's a very convincing psychopath and a great villain, but he maintains a real child-like essence that's important due to his character's age. Watching him in this film is a joy.
In much smaller but still wonderful roles are Virginia Madsen and Patrick Warburton as Luke's parents. They're very funny and even though they're only seen for a short time, it's easy to know who they are as people instantly. They're rich and completely out of touch with the world, which seems to have been passed on to their child in the worst way possible.
When it comes to Christmas and holiday films, people usually have their favorites. However, if viewers have been watching the same films every year for their whole life that can get a little boring. When that time comes, it's a sign to shake things up and look for some hidden gems. Better Watch Out certainly fits that description.