‘The Au Pair Nightmare’ Review: Twisted characters and well-retained suspense make for a compelling watch
Spoilers for ‘The Au Pair Nightmare’
Everybody knows one another in the small town of New Valley. Yet, the high profile couple Dr Caleb (Tristan Thomas) and his extremely intimidating wife Allesandra (Annie Heise) seem to be carrying a secret that has risen eyebrows.
Lifetime’s thriller-horror film ‘The Au Pair Nightmare’ introduces us to a 22-year-old Taylor (Brytnee Ratledge), who walks right into the lion’s den by taking up the job of an au pair at the Caleb’s, seeking a fresh start following the tragic death of her fiancé Brad (Micah McNeil).
The household, which is clearly run by its matriarchal head, creates a strange sense in Taylor, which at first she brushes off after encountering Allesandra’s abnormal characteristics. She is a self-proclaimed writer who spends most of her time locked up in her office and burning the midnight oil to finish the book she’s working on for ages.
As days pass, Taylor is exposed to more of the couple’s insecurities and a rather eerie behavior which leaps towards something bigger than just being protective parents to their daughter Emily.
When Taylor is convinced that Emily’s (Gianna Gallegos) upbringing is ridden with lies, she takes matter into her hands and sets up a plan to expose the couple, which only leads to shocking revelations about Allesandra and her true intentions towards her family which was kept hidden for years.
The plotline of ‘The Au Pair Nightmare’, despite minimal characters, plays out brilliantly by retaining its mystery factor until the very end, while offering a few of mind-boggling and twisted details, which keep you going.
The story remains crisp but takes deep dive into human emotions and the consequences of certain actions that see a few fall dead towards the end of the movie, sending chills right down your spine.
Besides several heart-in-the-mouth moments, ‘The Au Pair Nightmare’ provides light-hearted moments through Taylor’s relationship with her overprotective but fun older sister Kara (Elizabeth Saydah), who also, unfortunately, gets entangled in her sister’s crisis.
As far as the acting is concerned, the characters may have not indulged in over-the-top action or surprising sensuality despite touching upon infidelity, but every actor has done their share of performing well enough to bring the characters to life.
Overall, Lifetime’s ‘The Au Pair Nightmare’ makes for a great watch if you’re looking for something simple yet blood-curdling to catch up during the weekend.