"Lacey" and "Billy" arrive at her former home, after a period of parental estrangement. Unfortunately, they walk in on a tragic and terrifying scene. While the credits roll, the story changes abruptly to a cold winter setting. In a larger Massachusetts home, a young woman examines every nook and cranny of her environment. She is especially interested in old family photographs. As an opening voice-over reveals, this is "House Sitter" Ashley Dulaney (as Rebecca). As you'll immediately decipher, Ms. Delaney has an unnatural interest in her employer's family. And, yes, she is immediately recognizable as a possibly deranged "Lifetime" TV movie character. When the family cuts their vacation short, Dulaney finagles an invitation to stay over because she supposedly has no place to go while awaiting her next house-sitting job...
The family consists of furniture-restoring Kate Ashfield (as Sarah), her somewhat sullen husband Sean O'Bryan (as Kyle Lawrence) and their gloomy daughter Shelby Young (as Amy). Everyone is sad because another daughter, Lauren, recently died in a tragic drowning. Perky in pink, Dulaney begins to ingratiate herself into the host family. This story, written by Marcy Holland, adheres to its formula. Dulaney is engaging as the seemingly psycho house sitter. Direction by Jim Issa is strong and Ms. Young is especially convincing as the somewhat neglected daughter who suspects Dulaney may not be all there. There should be a stronger tie-in with "Lacey" and "Billy". Also, a line about transportation being affected by the snowy weather conditions would have helped explain why the family allows Dulaney to overstay her welcome.
***** The House Sitter (12/27/2015) Jim Issa ~ Ashley Dulaney, Kate Ashfield, Shelby Young, Sean O'Bryan
The family consists of furniture-restoring Kate Ashfield (as Sarah), her somewhat sullen husband Sean O'Bryan (as Kyle Lawrence) and their gloomy daughter Shelby Young (as Amy). Everyone is sad because another daughter, Lauren, recently died in a tragic drowning. Perky in pink, Dulaney begins to ingratiate herself into the host family. This story, written by Marcy Holland, adheres to its formula. Dulaney is engaging as the seemingly psycho house sitter. Direction by Jim Issa is strong and Ms. Young is especially convincing as the somewhat neglected daughter who suspects Dulaney may not be all there. There should be a stronger tie-in with "Lacey" and "Billy". Also, a line about transportation being affected by the snowy weather conditions would have helped explain why the family allows Dulaney to overstay her welcome.
***** The House Sitter (12/27/2015) Jim Issa ~ Ashley Dulaney, Kate Ashfield, Shelby Young, Sean O'Bryan