The Guardian

Watch The Guardian

"Fear for your life... Fight for your soul."
  • R
  • 1990
  • 1 hr 32 min
  • 5.4  (6,331)
  • 35

The Guardian is a 1990 supernatural thriller directed by William Friedkin and starring Jenny Seagrove, Dwier Brown, and Carey Lowell. It tells the story of a young couple, Phil and Kate, who hire a nanny to take care of their newborn son, as they both have busy work schedules. The nanny, named Camilla, seems perfect at first. She takes great care of the baby and seems to have a natural talent for mothering. As time goes by, however, Phil and Kate start noticing strange occurrences around the house, and they begin to suspect that Camilla may not be what she seems.

The movie begins with a prologue set in an ancient forest, where a druidic ritual takes place. A group of women gather around a tree and perform a ritual to summon a spirit that they believe will protect their children. They sacrifice a living animal to the tree, and the spirit appears in the form of a young woman known as the guardian.

The story then cuts to present-day Los Angeles, where Phil and Kate are looking for a nanny for their son, Jake. They come across Camilla, who has impeccable references and seems to be the perfect candidate for the job. Camilla is initially hesitant to take the job, but eventually agrees after bonding with Jake. From the very beginning, however, there are signs that suggest Camilla is not what she seems. She refuses to let Phil and Kate check her references, and she exhibits bizarre behavior around the house.

As time goes by, things start to get even stranger. Kate begins to have nightmares about Camilla, and she starts to see her in places she shouldn't be. She also notices that Camilla appears to be getting younger, despite the fact that she has been working for them for only a few months. Phil, on the other hand, becomes increasingly enamored with Camilla, and begins to have an affair with her.

As Phil's obsession with Camilla grows, Kate becomes convinced that there is something evil about her. She seeks the help of a psychic, who tells her that Camilla is not human, but a supernatural entity called the guardian. The guardian is a spirit that protects children, but it also feeds on them, and it needs a child to survive. Kate realizes that Camilla's true purpose is to take Jake as a sacrifice to the tree spirit, which is why she has been getting younger.

What follows is a tense cat-and-mouse game between Kate and Camilla, as Kate tries to protect Jake from the guardian. The climax takes place in the ancient forest, where Kate confronts the guardian and attempts to save her son.

The Guardian is a well-made thriller that relies heavily on atmosphere and tension rather than gore and jump scares. The cinematography is excellent, with moody lighting and eerie locations that create a sense of unease throughout the movie. The performances are also strong, with Seagrove delivering a convincing portrayal of a woman fighting to protect her child against supernatural forces.

Overall, The Guardian is a creepy and effective horror movie that deserves more recognition than it has received. It may not be a classic, but it's definitely worth a watch for fans of the genre.

The Guardian is a 1990 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 32 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.4 and a MetaScore of 35.

The Guardian
Description
Where to Watch The Guardian
The Guardian is available to watch, stream, download and buy on demand at Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play, YouTube VOD and Vudu. Some platforms allow you to rent The Guardian for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1990
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    1 hr 32 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.4  (6,331)
  • Metascore
    35