A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting

The film begins when Kelly was still a child. As it is shown later through flashbacks, she used to be one of the rare children who has the “Gift of Dreams,” which manifests whatever they see in their dreams and nightmares into the real world. One night, she is visited by The Grand Guignol (Tom Felton), who wants to create an army of such manifestations. One of the seven Boogeypeople or top-tier monsters, his ultimate goal is to bring destruction down on humanity. At the time, Kelly was saved by her babysitter, who turns to be a member of the Order of the Babysitters, as well as by her own ingenuity. Several years have since passed. Kelly is now an extraordinarily talented math wiz with typical teen issues, from mean girls to pretty boys to well-meaning but hapless parents. Some bullies at her school call her the “Monster Girl,” referring to her childhood trauma. It’s a nickname she later learns to embrace. The high-school freshman’s plan to attend a Halloween party gets derailed when her mother volunteers her to babysit the son of her mother’s boss, Ms. Zellman. Once she reaches Ms. Zellman’s home, she is introduced to her son, quiet and shy Jacob. After the older woman leaves for an office party, Kelly learns that Jacob is also plagued by monstrous dreams and doesn’t want to fall asleep. Later that night, three goblin-like creatures (known as toadies in the film) show up and abduct him.