The perfectly bad opening has wide-eyed psycho "romance novel" reader Tracy Nelson (as Andrea McBride) walking in on scruffily sexy husband Darren Gray Ward (as Troy Hatfield) with an arousing blonde. She stabs herself and not the blonde, which understandably lands Ms. Nelson in a mental hospital. Upon release, Nelson takes a thankfully more natural approach to knife wielding. In the future, she will only stab herself when absolutely necessary. Nelson fantasizes about a romance similar to the one in her favorite novel "The Passion of Mandy". She gets a job as "The Perfect Nanny" by stealing the resume of "Nikki Harcourt" and lands a job working for Southern California neurosurgeon Bruce Boxleitner (as James Lewis)... In the hospital, it's easy to tell he's a good guy by comparing Mr. Boxleitner's height and hair count with rival Scott Alan Smith (as Doctor Conrad). Attracting ex-model Susan Blakely (as Julia Bruning), the widower Boxleitner has two children, college-bound Dana Barron (as Fawn) and gullible young Scott Terra (as Ben). The boy boasts an IQ of 162, but daughter Dana turns out to be the smartest branch on the family tree. Getting wiser and visibly older in close-ups, Ms. Barron suspects there's a rotten nanny in the house. Livening up events is ditsy mother Katherine Helmond (as Rebecca McBride), who proves some apples don't fall far from the tree. Nelson and her trashy family are perfectly cast, and watching Barron unravel the plot is dumb fun. ****** The Perfect Nanny (2000) Robert Malenfant ~ Tracy Nelson, Bruce Boxleitner, Dana Barron, Katherine Helmond

In the opening scene of "The Perfect Nanny," an unhappy-looking brunette woman grabs a knife from her kitchen, marches into the bedroom where two people are having sex, and . . . stabs herself in the stomach. It's an obvious twist. Unfortunately, it's the only twist in this dreadful made-for, which is aimed at illiterates. Literally. When the characters aren't thinking aloud, they're reading aloud from whatever book, e-mail or psychiatric case file just happens to be open in front of them. But that's fair, since the filmmakers assume their audience is as stupid as the characters in this movie, which, as the title helpfully telegraphs, is yet another thriller in the venerable "obsessive psycho insinuates herself into an innocent family's life" genre (along the lines "The Single White Female That Attracts The Cradle" or whatever). Since there is no suspense whatsoever in this thriller, its only possible entertainment value is the camp factor, which is, sadly, only moderate. The plot, or excuse for it, centers on Tracy Nelson as the unhappy brunette who, after being released from the psych ward, changes her name and becomes the receptionist for a child care service so she can emulate the heroine of her favorite romance novel, a nanny who marries her employer. Yes, you've already guessed how this sucker is going to end, so you might as well try to enjoy the ride. On the plus side, Katherine Helmond turns in yet another witty performance as yet another horrible old lady, this time the psychonanny's abusive mother. Fans of blood and gore will also appreciate the body count, as the malicious Mary Poppins leaves a trail of victims that would embarrass Ted Bundy. The weak link, as always, is the family that the au parasite stalks, which is so boring that only a psycho would want want to live with them. Widower Bruce Boxleitner is a brilliant neurosurgeon but apparently too stupid to check references, let alone notice that his college-aged daughter (Dana Barron) is actually in her mid-30s. (Sweet "young" Fawn is off to study English Literature at Cambridge in a few months -- it can't be easy to wait fifteen years for your Junior Year Abroad.) The kid who the caretaker is supposed to take care of, ten-year-old Ben, is an easily duped genius (like father, like son). 70s stalwart Susan Blakely, still looking pretty decent in a bathing suit, shows up as Bruce's colleague and potential love interest but doesn't get enough screen time to perk up the proceedings. So you've read that title, which tells you what's going to happen. Watch at your own risk.

I think this is one of the best thrillers i've ever seen, really this movie has shock suspense scenes, is one of those movies where you don't know what is going to happen in the next scene.Well the movie started as a low budget movie that makes you think that it won't be good, but then it starts with the crazy obsession of the Nanny with her boss, and then the boss' daughter knows what she is planning but nobody trust her, because everybody is trapped with the charm of the nanny, and then Nanny is taking out all the obstacles in her way to get the doctor's love.It is a very frightening movie, i liked it very much, i really think that a 4.6 is not a good rating for this excellent movie.

I cannot be totally objective about this film as I have a soft spot for the lovely Susan Blakely who must have one of the most sincere faces on this earth ! This being the case, any film starring her will be a pleasure to watch for me ! That apart, I did find the film pretty good, I had already seen the film "The Perfect Tenant" which was made by the same director ( and also starred Tracy Nelson in the role of a mentally unsound woman ), Now as to Tracy Nelson herself, she indeed plays a very worrying and frightening character, you do actually forget she is acting and actually believe her to be the part she is playing. This is really quite frightening as her moves are psychotic and unpredictable. She commits brutal murder without really realizing what she is doing. She is living in a fantasy world and trying to act it out in real life. Not a film to be watched alone or late at night ! I am also very keen on the actor Bruce Boxleitner whom I have seen in several films previously. I have seen other readers compare this film to "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" with Jessica Lange. I did enjoy that but found this film far more frightening and anguishing, notably from the performance given by Tracy Nelson. I managed to find it on DVD in the USA and certainly didn't regret my purchase !