The Guardian

Deep in the lush canyons of upmarket LA, the tranquillity of an all-American family (Brown, Lowell and infant son) is threatened by the arrival of Camilla (Seagrove). Posing as a nanny sent by the Guardian Angel agency, she turns out to be a bloodthirsty, baby-sacrificing tree-worshipper. Based on Dan Greenburg's novel The Nanny, Friedkin's first foray into horror since The Exorcist contains many of the trademarks which characterised that epochal work: prying cameras track constantly through the shadowy corridors, sneaking up on occupants, while blinded scientists (police and doctors) impotently explain away supernatural disturbances. This time, though, Friedkin opts for up-front hokum, interspersed with impressively ridiculous special effects, including man-eating trees, flying nannies and coniferous chainsaw carnage. A severely flawed but not unamusing venture from a director who should know better.