Hollywood has created a new demon—we’ll call it the remake monster—with an insatiable appetite and seemingly indiscriminate taste. The latest victim to fall into its thorny clutches is 1991 dark comedy Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, which Tyra Banks’ production company SMiZE is retooling into a modern parable about adulthood and responsibility.
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First announced in 2o2o, the reboot stars Simone Joy in the role originally held by Christina Applegate, along with Nicole Richie, June Squibb, Donielle Tremaine Hensley, Jermaine Fowler, Miles Fowler, Ms. Par, Iantha Richardson, Gus Kenworthy, and Tyriq Withers.
The reboot seems to follow a largely similar arc as the story’s first outing. According to a synopsis, the film centers around 17-year-old Tanya Crandell (Joy), a high school senior who “can’t wait to spend the summer living it up with her friends in Spain before heading to Howard University in the fall.”
Tanya’s plans are dashed, however, when her mom “decides to head to a much-needed wellness retreat in Thailand,” forcing her to forgo her trip and stay home to watch her three siblings instead. (Side note: is the Thai wellness retreat being held at The White Lotus? This stunt seems like the exact sort of stunt someone in that universe would pull.)
Adding insult to injury, Tanya’s mom hires an elderly, bible-toting babysitter (Squibb), who drops dead from an unexpected heart attack. Following this, er, setback, Tanya “gets a job working for the confident and ambitious Rose (Richie). Juggling work, family and a complicated romance, Tanya faces the responsibility of adulthood at the cost of her summer of freedom,” the synopsis concludes. Better yet, stop leaving children alone to fend for themselves so you can go on your own wild and crazy adventure! Maybe whenever Hollywood starts making original content again, movie parents will finally learn.
Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead premieres April 12 in theaters.