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The Guardian

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Guardian (1990)
Official Home Video Trailer
Play trailer1:30
2 Videos
66 Photos
  • Drama
  • Fantasy
  • Horror

A young couple with a newborn baby don't realize that the nanny they hired is a magical nymph who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.A young couple with a newborn baby don't realize that the nanny they hired is a magical nymph who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.A young couple with a newborn baby don't realize that the nanny they hired is a magical nymph who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.

IMDb RATING
5.3/10
5.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Dan Greenburg(novel "The Nanny")
    • Stephen Volk(screenplay)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jenny Seagrove
    • Dwier Brown
    • Carey Lowell
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Friedkin
  • Writers
    • Dan Greenburg(novel "The Nanny")
    • Stephen Volk(screenplay)
    • William Friedkin(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Jenny Seagrove
    • Dwier Brown
    • Carey Lowell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 68User reviews
    • 81Critic reviews
    • 35Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos2

    The Guardian
    Trailer 1:30
    The Guardian
    The Guardian
    Trailer 0:26
    The Guardian

    Photos66

    Jenny Seagrove in The Guardian (1990)
    William Friedkin in The Guardian (1990)
    Carey Lowell and Dwier Brown in The Guardian (1990)
    Carey Lowell in The Guardian (1990)
    Jenny Seagrove in The Guardian (1990)
    Dwier Brown in The Guardian (1990)
    Jenny Seagrove in The Guardian (1990)
    Jenny Seagrove in The Guardian (1990)
    Dwier Brown in The Guardian (1990)
    The Guardian (1990)
    The Guardian (1990)
    Natalija Nogulich in The Guardian (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jenny Seagrove
    Jenny Seagrove
    • Camillaas Camilla
    Dwier Brown
    Dwier Brown
    • Phil Sterlingas Phil Sterling
    Carey Lowell
    Carey Lowell
    • Kate Sterlingas Kate Sterling
    Brad Hall
    Brad Hall
    • Ned Runcieas Ned Runcie
    Miguel Ferrer
    Miguel Ferrer
    • Ralph Hessas Ralph Hess
    Natalija Nogulich
    Natalija Nogulich
    • Molly Sheridanas Molly Sheridan
    • (as Natalia Nogulich)
    Pamela Brull
    • Gail Krasnoas Gail Krasno
    Gary Swanson
    Gary Swanson
    • Allan Sheridanas Allan Sheridan
    Jack David Walker
    • Punkas Punk
    Willy Parsons
    • Punkas Punk
    Frank Noon
    Frank Noon
    • Punkas Punk
    Theresa Randle
    Theresa Randle
    • Arlene Russellas Arlene Russell
    Xander Berkeley
    Xander Berkeley
    • Detectiveas Detective
    Ray Reinhardt
    • Dr. Kleinas Dr. Klein
    Jacob Gelman
    Jacob Gelman
    • Scottyas Scotty
    Iris Bath
    • Mrs. Hornimanas Mrs. Horniman
    Rita Gomez
    • Rosariaas Rosaria
    Barry Herman
    • Dr. at Birthas Dr. at Birth
    • (as Dr. Barry Herman)
    • Director
      • William Friedkin
    • Writers
      • Dan Greenburg(novel "The Nanny") (screenplay)
      • Stephen Volk(screenplay)
      • William Friedkin(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Phil and Kate have a baby boy named Jake. They hire a baby-sitter, Camilla, to look after Jake and she becomes part of the family. The Sterling's friend and neighbor, Ned, takes a liking to Camilla and asks her out. She refuses, but Ned follows her and discovers that she is not quite human. Camilla discovers that she has been followed and Ned is pursued. He leaves a desperate message for Phil and Kate which reveals that Camilla has special plans for baby Jake. —brooks@odie.ee.wits.ac.za and drxcreatures@yahoo.com
    • tree branches for hands
    • bare chested male
    • thrown through a glass door
    • leg ripped off
    • female frontal nudity
    • 99 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Tonight, while the world is asleep... an ancient evil is about to awaken.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Horror
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jenny Seagrove was unhappy with the film's constant re-writes, and wanted to make a completely different film. She said to The Guardian in 2007: "It was about this druid nanny who became a tree. I begged Universal to make it about a real nanny who kidnaps babies. 'No, no, we can't do that,' they said, 'the thirty somethings in America won't come and see the film.' I said, 'I think you're completely wrong; this film is total fantasy, and it's just awful.' Two years later The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) was released, so I rang up my friend at Universal and he said, 'Don't. Don't even talk about it, you were right.' "
    • Goofs
      As the tree is being cut down, the movie keeps cutting back to Camilla, showing what damage it is doing to her. When the guy finishes cutting down the tree, there is a shot of Camilla and her left leg breaks off and she falls to the ground. The two shots immediately following, of the mother tackling her and then of Camilla being thrown out the window, both show her with her legs still intact.
    • Quotes

      Detective: There's no evidence that the woman you describe ever existed.

    • Alternate versions
      There are two versions of "The Guardian": the theatrical cut, credited to William Friedkin, and a modified cut, credited to "Alan Smithee". The Alan Smithee cut has never been released on video but has been shown on cable. It includes new scenes including another scene in the hospital; different dream sequences; a scene of the nanny waking the wife up and alternate angles for other scenes. Also, the ending of the cable cut is different and omits much of the gore.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Miami Blues/Vital Signs/Lisa/Chattahoochee (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Palau
      Music by Not Drowning Waving (as Not Drowning, Waving)

      Lyrics by David Bridie

      Performed by Not Drowning Waving (as Not Drowning, Waving)

      Courtesy of Mighty Boy Records

    User reviews68

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Whatever you do, avoid watching the edited version of this movie.
    Somewhat creepy horror movie with a supernatural edge to it, kind of a more horror oriented "Hand that Rocks the Cradle". Basically, a couple with their first child hires a nanny with a very dark and disturbing secret. She has chosen this baby for a reason and it is not to simply make it hers. As far as horror movies it is somewhat good, it has some gore, a couple of tense scenes and some nudity. However, if you watch the cut version of this movie the whole thing changes to the point almost all the scares and creepy stuff is taken out. They seem to completely edit over the first scene involving the baby taken to the tree, a scene later with the mother makes it out that the child survived and is safe and sound. The regular version is not so chipper. The ending is screwed up to as it ends earlier and they basically cut out the final scene. I realize that you want to cut out some stuff so you can show your movie on the happy time family network, but in the end you should not edit a movie to the point its plot and meaning change. So for an okay horror movie with some creepy scenes and such give this movie a shot, for a pedestrian movie with basically no scares and all creepiness removed try and find the cut version of the film.
    helpful•14
    3
    • Aaron1375
    • May 6, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 27, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ángel de las sombras
    • Filming locations
      • USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Nanny Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $17,037,887
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,565,620
      • Apr 29, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $17,037,887
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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