Initially I thought this film was going to be great, it was unusual, and very different. The atypical babysitter under siege horror this was not, so I applaud them for twisting the original format. Unfortunately after a bright start, where you were left wondering what on Earth was going on, it just fell really flat, the plot made virtually no sense, I mean how on Earth did she know she'd end up there? What was the point in the entire charade? It makes no sense. At times I thought the script was a little tasteless to say the least, putting kids through what she did was unnecessary at times, I didn't care much for it.

So it's a real mixed bag, a great idea, but unfortunately the execution was poor, the acting was great and the production values were strong. Sarah Bolger was the best thing about it.

Too many wasted opportunities. 5/10

EMELIE is a generally poor addition to the psycho-thriller genre of film-making that manages to waste a great deal of early promise in a story that gradually falls apart the more it goes on. It sees Sarah Bolger playing a mysterious babysitter from hell who puts her charges through a series of increasingly unpleasant and awkward experiences. The first half successfully builds suspense but the second half becomes very arty and drawn-out, feeling very much like the writer had no idea how to create an ending with impact. I watched this mainly for Bolger, who I loved in THE TUDORS and have followed ever since. She doesn't disappoint, and neither do the child actors here, so it's a pity the writing lets them down.

Needing an emergency babysitter a couple calls in Anna (Sarah Bolger). She is a kid's dream and a parent's nightmare. At 44 minutes into the film we find out things are not what they seem as the kids rebel against her.

This has a similar feel as a home break-in film after a while. There were too many phones, devices in the house, and too many friends and neighbors for me to feel the endangerment. I liked how they worked back to the car and being anything you want, and Jacob taking control. Sarah Bolger did a good job with the role, it just wasn't a convincing tale. Worth a rental.

Guide: 1 F-word. We hear a sex tape. Not much in nudity.