The 2017 comedy-horror film The Babysitter kicks off when Cole Johnson witnesses his
babysitter Bee and her friends brutally kill a young man in preparation for a satanic ritual
in Cole's living room.
From that point on, Cole is forced to run - and fight - for his life as the satanists
chase him through a suburban nightmare.
It's hilarious and thrilling and, wouldn't you know, a hell of a lot of fun.
One of the most memorable characters in the diabolical ensemble was Max, the cocky, handsome
jock of the cult, who for reasons not entirely explained, is bare-chested throughout most
of the movie.
Now, the bloodthirsty jock you love to hate is back, and Max is once again portrayed by
Toronto-born actor Robbie Amell.
"Damn it feels good to be back.
Whooo!"
In The Babysitter: Killer Queen, it's been two years since Cole successfully fought off
the satanic cult.
But during Cole's weekend getaway to a lake house with his friends, the group reappears
to complete their task from the first film.
Amell once again proves he's a scene-stealer, especially during one particular sequence...
While his witty interactions with the rest of the villains will certainly be reason enough
for most viewers to love Robbie Amell even more, his character shines the most when he
has a chance to take center stage.
"Oh-ho, yes, Cole.
Standing up for yourself.
Just like I showed...."
Amell has the ability to be physically appealing as well as intimidating when the script calls
for it, and he gets to display all of that in one particularly unhinged scene.
After a daring escape across a lake on a jet ski, Cole and his new pal Phoebe reach a dark
and desolate shore and narrowly escape a confrontation with Allison.
That's when, suddenly, an axe-wielding Max emerges from behind a boulder.
This is where Robbie Amell really shines, and we get to witness the ferocious intensity
of Amell's performance.
You feel the intensity in his glare, the devastating power in every swing of his axe.
Unlike so many horror villains that don't create a true sense of danger, Max here is
completely believable.
Sure, it's a hilarious running joke that Max never wears a shirt, but in this scene that
detail is less of a punchline and more of a visceral reminder that, yeah, this guy is
ripped.
He's athletic.
He can get the best of Cole.
And yet even while Amell brings all of that to the forefront, he never forgets what makes
this character so fun.
"Max, stop that s---.
It's creepy."
"It's supposed to be - we're hunting children."
The Babysitter: Killer Queen is a horror comedy.
It's a tough genre line to walk, but McG and his team make it work perfectly in this film.
A major part of that balancing act is the actors themselves - swing too much towards
comedy, and you lower the stakes.
On the other hand, if you go too far into the horror realm, the laughs can start to
feel a little uneasy.
In the hands of Robbie Amell, though, this specific scene finds the perfect flow.
One minute Max is as terrifying a villain as you could ever meet in a desolate desert
canyon; the next, he's groaning off a nut-kick.
"Finally found my d---, Cole!"
That delivery works so well in part because it doesn't lessen the inherent danger in Max.
If anything, it encapsulates it.
Throughout both films, Amell plays Max as a completely unpredictable opponent.
He jokes because he's so threatening, not because he's showing a softer side.
Max is one of those demented characters who wants to have fun, but he also wants you to
flee in terror.
"You gonna let me go now?"
"No."
This scene in Killer Queen brings together everything we've learned about Max in one
thrilling encounter.
And more than that, it gives Amell a real chance to showcase his range.
Watch his face as he toggles between relentless killer and your joking buddy.
His tone and posture switch completely, but as an audience member, you never lose the
sense that he'll stick a knife through your neck at the drop of a hat - and smile doing
it.
Over the course of this scene, Cole and Phoebe throw everything they can at Max.
"Easy, killer."
"Silly string, pretty lame.
"Pretty flammable."
Throughout it all, Max's confidence never wavers.
If anything, he gets even more confident with each blow.
And if the rest of the scene isn't enough to convince you that Amell is perfect for
the part, a little flashback in the middle of it all is the icing on the cake.
The scene shows him at work as a fast food clerk - still shirtless, of course.
While a customer berates him, his hand slowly clenches the handle of a deep fryer basket.
Everything about the short flashback punctuates Max's character.
It's funny, but menacing - just like Max himself.
He doesn't need to say a word to tell the audience that, like that vat of oil, Max is
outwardly normal with something lethal boiling inside.
The fact that Robbie Amell manages to convey all this without breaking a sweat is a true
testament to his skill as an actor.
From The Duff to Code 8 to The Flash, Amell has shown in his past roles that he's more
than capable of bringing an impressive range of great characters to the screen.
Fans of The Babysitter franchise are only going to love the actor even more after his
memorable second outing as Max.
That's the power Amell brings to the film, and this scene in particular, and it's hard
to imagine any other actor pulling it off the same way.
Thanks for watching.
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