If Home Alone took a hard left into the horror aisle, Better Watch Out (2017) would emerge, equal parts twisted holiday cheer and sinister siege. It even throws in a nod to the 1990 Christmas classic with one of the iconic traps, which is a nice little treat for fans. The villains here are less slapstick, more psycho, and honestly, we kind of miss the Wet Bandits and their delightful brand of stupidity.
Want to truly enjoy this movie? Go in blind. No trailers, no teasers, just hit play and let it unfold. Around the 30-minute mark it throws a curveball that flips the script and launches the story into completely new territory. Saying more would spoil the surprise, and trust us, this is one ride best experienced without a roadmap.The Lerners are headed out for the evening, but they’re not exactly at ease leaving their 12-year-old son, Luke (Levi Miller), home alone. So, they’ve made the sensible choice to call in Ashley (Olivia DeJonge), the reliable babysitter, family confidante and the one person they trust to keep a close eye on things while they’re away.
A Movie of Teenage Chaos and Surprising Suspense
Ashley arriving to take the reins, it’s her final curtain call, one last night wrangling the Lerner household before she packs her bags and waves suburbia goodbye. She’s probably dreaming of a fat tip after years of putting up with him. Naturally, she’s expecting a quiet, uneventful evening but he clearly has other plans.
It turns out that Luke has been quietly harboring a secret crush on Ashley for quite some time, and he’s absolutely determined not to let this final chance slip through his fingers. With his parents out of the house and the coast seemingly clear, Luke seizes what he believes might be his last shot at turning an ordinary babysitting gig into date night. Whether he’s aiming for a bold romantic gesture or just hoping to stand out, the stage is set for surprises.
Despite carrying the expected cheesy undertone with goofy one-liners sprinkled throughout, the movie still knows how to appeal to the grown-ups in the room. It manages to maintain a surprising level of suspense and, though we’re almost embarrassed to describe it this way, a hint of seriousness without drifting too far into lala land. This is no small feat for a movie powered by a cast barely old enough to sneak into a PG-13 screening.
Bumbling Idiots Who Can’t Stop Walking Into Traps
Just as the evening starts to settle, the calm shatters like glass. Cryptic phone calls and pizza deliveries far more than anyone ordered stack up like a prank spun out of control. It’s only later that Ashley and Luke notice the patio door is ajar, and a sinking feeling sets in that someone might already be inside the house.
Without sugarcoating it, things heat up, gleefully dragging us down a home invasion angle. It’s fun, sure, but a lot of what unfolds leans on plot conveniences so blatant, you half expect a character to wink at the camera.
Take the would-be heroes, for example, every one of them seems destined to stumble straight into the jaws of danger. We’ve done our best to dance around spoilers, but we can say just enough to reveal that Better Watch Out mixes yuletide spirit, cheerful carolers and traps that would make a deranged Kevin McCallister proud.
christmas