Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead [2024] – Review (2/5)

DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD is a 2024 remake of the dark comedy from 1991. It’s cool that they include a few cameos from the original and that it features a black cast. Unfortunately, the movie just isn’t very good. Read our full Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead movie review here!

DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD is the new 2024 remake of the 1991 dark comedy. I can see why they wanted to make a new version for the next generation but they haven’t updated it much. If at all.

So, why are we covering this movie here on Heaven of Horror? Well, we saw other horror movie websites covering it and figured there was a reason for this. Our conclusion: There isn’t really much reason. It’s not darker or more sinister than the 1991 original, but it is R-rated, which may be why.

Continue reading our 2024 Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead movie review below.

A babysitter gets in the way of fun

In Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, we meet the 17-year-old Tanya Crandell (played by mid-20s Simone Joy Jones) as she’s getting ready to finally get some time to herself. She’ll be spending the summer with her friends in Spain before starting at Howard University in the fall.

Unfortunately, her mom is about to change these plans at a moment’s notice, when she decides to go on a wellness retreat in Thailand. This means Tanya is forced to stay home with her three siblings – though I’m not sure why as an insufferable elderly babysitter is hired to look after the kids.

In the 1991 original, Christina Applegate’s character can’t afford to go with her friends to Europe, so when their mom goes to Australia with her boyfriend, she just looks forward to a summer of freedom instead.

1991 DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD CAMEOS IN THE 2024 REMAKE

Keep your eye out for horror icon Danielle Harris, who was the young daughter in the original, and Keith Cogan, who was the stoner brother Kenny. Also, we see Joanna Cassidy, who was the fashion boss Rose, in a scene with the Rose of the 2024 remake.

Anyway, just like in the 1991 original, their elderly babysitter (June Squibb) dies very shortly after the mom has left. This results in Tanya needing to get a job so she can support her siblings. However, when looking at the house, it seems like they shouldn’t be in as much trouble as we’re made to believe.

They live in a huge house with a gorgeous pool. Surely there is food in the house, which could help them get by for at least a while. Anyway, you really shouldn’t think too much about it, because Tanya get a job at a fashion retailer where her boss Rose (Nicole Richie) takes an instant liking to her.

There’s also a sweet romance story in this movie that takes up way too much time. It does nothing for the story and simply drags out the runtime when we have to tag along on yet another date.

A very direct remake

I’m never against remakes as a rule. I know many genre fans in particular tend to loathe the very concept of remakes, but I’m always open for it. However, I do expect there to be a reason for this remake. Either to update the story to the present, due to access to better special effects, or to make it in a new language.

With Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, we’re getting a very direct remake of the 1991 cult classic. If anything, this feels like a softer and lighter version almost. The entire main cast is black, but that’s about it.

I just cannot grasp why they haven’t utilized this element more. Why not include this in the storyline, which is also in desperate need of being updated? What might fly in 1991 just does not work anymore.

The world is a very different place now – not least due to the internet and social media.

2020s Black but feels very 1990s white

Apart from making a “Don’t call the cops when you’re black”-comment several times, it feels like the exact same story. Okay, and also having the stereotypical “black mom” who commands her kids with threats and never listens to their explanations.

I mean, we’ve seen amazing black mothers, who nurture with tough love and won’t accept any backtalk. From Clair Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) back in the 1980s in The Cosby Show to Beth Pearson (Susan Kelechi Watson) in This is Us (2016-2022).

In a full circle move, Phylicia Rashad also played Beth’s mom in This is Us.

Anyway, in Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, we see none of the tough love – only the quintessential angry black woman. So, again, what’s the point of this remake? Surely, there are many other updates and innovative storylines that could’ve benefitted the movie.

Both due to it being set more than three decades later and with black characters.

Watch Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead on Digital now

This 2024 remake was directed by Wade Allain-Marcus (French Dirty, Insecure) from a screenplay by Chuck Hayward (Ted Lasso, WandaVision). On paper, this should be fine, but in effect, the result is a lackluster carbon copy of the 1991 original.

To me, this remake seems like such a missed opportunity. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that this is exactly why so many people hate remakes on principle. And while this isn’t a terrible movie in itself, I would much rather watch the 1991 original instead.

We’ve been blessed with some amazing movies and series featuring black core casts, so I expected more from this remake. Check out Swarm, Lovecraft Country, The Other Black Girl, the amazing two seasons of the Prime Video series Them, or the just-released Cross series instead.

This remake is billed as a “cult classic reimagined”, but I fear they forgot to “reimagine” very much and just remade it. It’s a BET+ Original Film and SMiZE Productions (Tyra Banks) was involved with making this, so I expected more. Way too much, it turned out.

DON’T TELL MOM THE BABYSITTER’S DEAD is available on Digital November 19, 2024. Find it on AppleTV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube, Microsoft, Fandango At Home, and other digital platforms.

Details

Director: Wade Allain-Marcus
Screenplay: huck Hayward
Cast: Simone Joy Jones, Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, Jermaine Fowler, June Squibb, Nicole Richie