THE NIGHTMARE NANNY
US, 2013, 91 minutes, Colour.
Ashley Scott, Mekenna Melvin, Kip Pardue, Nathan Parsons.
Directed by Michael Feifer.
The Nightmare Nanny is too corny a title for this kind of drama – it is more suggestive of a gory horror film. There have been many films about nannies, impersonations, abductions of children – the classic being The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.
This film is directed by Michael Feifer, prolific producer and director of films for television. In fact, the somewhat soap-opera style indicates that the makers had the popular television audience in mind.
There is a prologue that sets the scene, a car crash, the loss of a child, the mother going to an institution and, three years later, going to an interview for the hiring of a babysitter (after murdering a candidate she meets), her ingratiating herself into the house, bonding with affection to the child, cold towards the mother, somewhat flirtatious towards the father.
It is all a preparation for the child to bond with the nanny, leading to her partner abducting the child, police pursuit, the parents in pursuit and a confrontation on the bridge where the distraught mother had strewn the ashes of her dead child.
1. The title, expectations? Fulfilled?
2. California settings, countryside, bridges, towns? The city, the mansions, the parks? Musical score?
3. The familiar aspects of the plot – the hand that rocks the cradle?
4. The prologue, the pregnant mother, her joy, her husband, the drive, content, the crash, getting out of the crash, the death of the child, sprinkling the ashes from the bridge?
5. Three years passing, the introduction to the family, husband and wife, baby Jenny, her health difficulties?
6. Anne busy, Ben losing his job, their financial difficulties? And having to go to work? Discussions about the nanny?
7. The range of interviews? Amber at the house, the encounter with Julie, the pretense of her resume, taking Julie’s, the later discovery of her murder?
8. Amber making a good impression, calling herself Julie, hired, always present, affectionate with Jenny, cold towards Anne, a kind of flirtation with Ben? Always ready, doing the right thing, preparing meals? Anne discovering Ben and the meal with Julie? Having to apologise?
9. Anne taking Jenny to the park, the suddenness of the abduction, Jake taking the child? Amber and the whole setup?
10. The role of the police, the sheriff not doing emails, the drive to the town?
11. Jake and Amber together, with the baby, calling her Gaby after their dead child, going to her parents, the welcome? Her moving on, the house?
12. Anne and Ben and the Internet, information, the place where Amber would go, their driving, and in the confrontation with Amber’s mother and family?
13. The police finding Jake, the chase, his change of heart? Amber and her fleeing, on the bridge? The plea, mother and father united with Jenny? Amber falling from the bridge?
14. Familiar material – designed for a popular television audience?
