‘Tis the season for Christmas movies.
While there are so many favorites to choose from, topping the list for many isHome Alone.
It’s more live-actionLooney Tunesthan anything else.
Image by Federico Napoli
There’s some innocence to some of Kevin’s traps.
Oh, look, he put Christmas ornaments on the floor for them to step on!
Harry gets covered in glue and feathers.
Image via 20th Century Studios
If Harry or Marv had been killed, it would have gone too far.
This time there’s also a teenage babysitter involved as well in Ashley (Olivia DeJonge).
You’d never see those weapons in aHome Alonemovie.
Even the Wet Bandits didn’t have anything but their bare hands.
It’s Luke though who seems a little off.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”
Image via Well Go USA Entertainment
You’re expecting anR-ratedHome Alone, so that’s what directorChris Peckovergives you.
Luke is 12 and in love with his babysitter, which is seemingly cute and harmless.
“Garrett does just that, only to get shot dead in the backyard.
On a quiet suburban street, a babysitter must defend a twelve-year-old boy from intruders, only to discover it’s far from a normal home invasion.
Holy shit, they killed a kid!
Luke and Ashley flee upstairs, and we get ready for the bone-crunching gory kills to start.
We learn that Luke and Garrett faked the home invasion as a way for Luke to impress Ashley.
Okay, that’s fucked up, but you’re free to come back from that.
This isn’t a harmless crush anymore.
Spoiler alert: it’s nasty.
His plan worked, and now his parents are home, thinking their son miraculously survived the worst.
He is now completely screwed.
A family film can’t go against conventions.
IfHome Aloneturned out to be something different from what we were promised, it wouldn’t have succeeded.
It’s why horror can have false endings and left turns and family films can’t.
There are no barriers to the genre, only starting points.
ForBetter Watch Out, that starting point is the comfort ofHome Alone.
After that, you’re on your own.
It only had a limited run in theaters,where it made just $176,000 worldwide.
It’s a surprise that we never got a sequel because the ending toBetter Watch Outperfectly sets one up.
After all, he’s just a poor, innocent child, so everyone will take pity on him.
There’s just one massive problem though: Ashley isn’t dead.
In the final scene, she’s awake and Luke knows he’s in huge trouble.
The moment she’s able to speak, she will tell everything.
If he’s grown up and evil,Better Watch Out 2loses what set it apart.
Better Watch Outis available to watch on Peacock.
