Sometimes after watching a fantastic film you get that sudden rush of enjoyment and sheer excitement that the horror genre is head in the right way again. After watching Babysitter Wanted I had that feeling and I knew that the horror genre is still capable of pumping out fantastic films on a budget. This is one of those films that I am very proud to be able to review and let everyone know that this is a film that you have to keep your eye on. It is without a doubt one of the best films I have seen in the past ten years. So may this review serve as an open letter to all the horror fans, distributors and fellow horror critics hunt this movie down and watch it. You won't regret it.

Angie Albright is a young sheltered and beautiful girl who is brought up in a very devout Christian home. However she is about to head off to college to begin her studies. After traveling off to college she begins to feel as though she is being watched. As she begins to settle in with her new roommate and develop a relationship with a potential boyfriend she needs to get some money by taking on a babysitter job at the Stantons. When she is dropped off at the Stanton's home things really begin to unravel for her. The strange man that has been watching her begins to harass her with phone calls. The phone calls soon turn into a confrontation face to face and Angie must protect the Stanton's young boy who is asleep upstairs. But is everything as it seems?

Babysitter Wanted runs high on all cylinders. It does everything right from putting together a well written script, casting some fantastic actors and developing a great musical score. This film manages to pull you in with a familiar babysitter story and then delivers sucker punch with a twist that you will never see coming. You may think you know what it is, but trust me you have no idea.

When it comes to the actors involved in this film they definitely did some of the best casting they could have done. Everyone involved was perfectly chosen for their role. Bill Moseley even gets in on the fun with a minor role as the local Sheriff. Even though he only makes a small appearance the director utilizes Bill to his full potential. Something that is not always done in most other films. Two other notables that I must mention is young Sarah Thompson as Angie. She really pulls off the role as a young woman heading off into the world after living a relatively sheltered life with her mother. The other actor that I must mention is Bruce Thomas who portrays Mr. Stanton. The only way I can think to describe his role is Bruce Campbell-esque.

Now unto the score, something which I always feel is what can take a movie from being great to becoming a genre classic. The folks behind this movie seem to realize that as well and had a fantastic orchestral score for the film. I also took note to the wonderful use of sound which is vastly under used in most films today. While there is plenty of on screen gore in this flick there is one scene where the simple use of sound creates much more tension then anything they could have put on the screen. Its very subtle but amazingly effective.

Overall this is easily one of the best films of this year. My hope is that everything falls into place for this film and it gets a proper theatrical release. Babysitter Wanted is just a fun film that provides everything a horror fan could want. It manages to take a small sub genre of horror and turn it on its head. So keep a close eye on this one because if everything works the way it should you will be seeing this one in a theater near you. If not this film and everyone involved has been served a terrible injustice. Grab a bucket of popcorn, an ice cold beer and get ready for one of the best films you will see all year.

- Luke Franklin