As Halloween approaches, younger audiences are increasingly excited about the spooky season, surrounded by toothy pumpkins and ghostly sheets. However, finding age-appropriate content that balances thrills and chills can be challenging. Joe Ballarini’s “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” book and its Netflix adaptation offer a potential solution. This review dives into both versions to help you decide if they’re worth your time.
The story revolves around Kelly, a thirteen-year-old (aged up in the movie), who needs money for a camp that promises to transform her into a cooler version of herself before high school. She takes a babysitting job on Halloween night, sacrificing a chance to impress her crush. But her night takes a turn when she discovers that babysitting involves protecting children from real monsters emerging from their nightmares. Luckily, a secret society of professional babysitters exists to combat these creatures and the Boogeyman, who plans to use children’s nightmares to take over the world.
Book vs. Movie: Lost in Translation?
One initial issue stems from the title translation, which creates confusion for viewers seeking the Netflix adaptation. While adaptations often tweak titles, aligning them improves discoverability. Searching for “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” on Netflix yields no results, requiring viewers to sift through youth-oriented titles. This disconnect, while seemingly minor, hinders the viewing experience.
Plot and Characters: A Critical Look
The core plot of “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” is undeniably fantastical. However, both the book and film suffer from somewhat bland character development. Relationships feel underdeveloped, dialogues often sound artificial, and the protagonist’s immediate acceptance of the existence of monsters feels forced. While the book fleshes out certain characters more than the movie, the supporting cast, particularly the other babysitters, lacks distinct personalities and backstories.
Despite these shortcomings, the story offers moments of ingenuity. For instance, Kelly’s hobby of making flashlights gains significance as they become essential monster-fighting tools, adding depth to an otherwise quirky character trait.
The movie streamlines the book’s numerous subplots and characters to avoid overwhelming the audience. This means some events are resolved differently. For example, Liz’s temporary disappearance in the book is replaced by Mama Vee, who’s relegated to a mere mention in the film. As a result, Liz takes on Mama Vee’s responsibilities, becoming a central figure. Both versions succeed in delivering an action-packed narrative that should keep younger viewers entertained. Expect battles, chases, magical artifacts, and menacing villains.
Halloween Themes and Target Audience
Both the book and the film embody the spirit of Halloween releases. While telling the same story, they interpret the monster theme differently, appealing to slightly different age groups. Surprisingly, the book is arguably scarier. When reading about monsters’ claws, teeth, and tentacles, readers can conjure up their own frightening images based on their personal fears and media exposure. The movie, on the other hand, presents a more colorful and cartoonish vision of monsters, reminiscent of “Monsters, Inc.”
Furthermore, fear is often amplified by witnessing others’ emotions. While the book allows readers to delve into characters’ fears, the movie relies on the actress portraying Kelly simply stating her determination to fight, which lacks the same emotional impact. The film’s jump scares are less terrifying and more comedic, featuring cute, clumsy creatures with a penchant for drama.
Final Verdict: A Gateway to Horror?
It’s challenging to view children’s content purely from a child’s perspective. However, “A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting” is likely to appeal to younger audiences. The book series offers an adventurous world that may seem simplistic to adults but could serve as an ideal introduction to the horror genre for children seeking something more thrilling than “Monsters, Inc.” It can ignite a passion for reading while providing a safe level of suspense. While it’s not a masterpiece, it’s worth watching, if only for Tom Felton’s singing and the opportunity to compare it with the book.
