Sundance 2022

“Nanny” stars Anna Diop as Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant who begins working for a Manhattan couple caring for their young daughter, Rose (Rose Decker). When Aisha arrives, she's greeted by Rose's mother, Amy (Michelle Monaghan), and introduced to their upscale Manhattan dwelling, with high-end furnishings and a fridge lined with fresh foods. When Amy's husband, Adam (Morgan Spector), returns home from a trip, though not obvious at first, it becomes clear that Adam and Amy don't have an ideal marriage. They rarely speak to each other apart from when they're around friends in service of keeping up appearances. The breakdown in the couple's communication frequently puts Aisha as an awkward go-between for the couple. And as time progresses, Aisha begins to see that maybe the couple isn't as well-to-do as they're projecting. Amy begins repeatedly shorting Aisha's pay. The food supply in the home becomes increasingly insufficient for nourishing a young child. Being paid less than expected is especially concerning because she is saving to bring her son, Lamine, to the US to live with her.

Categorized as a horror film, the horror in “Nanny” is mainly symbolic. Reminiscent of Remi Weekes's “His House,” where the horrors are allegorical to the immigrant experience, Nanny feels like it is attempting to do the same for this version of the American Dream. Aisha and Amy are, in fact, both in the same position, putting literal and figurative distance between themselves and their children in pursuit of that dream (higher income/a better job/a better life). Diop gives a fantastic performance, and I would love to see her in more films in the future. The horror aspects in this story were not very frightening and didn't seem well-integrated into the plot. I wouldn't suggest watching this film if you're seeking a horror movie, as it's more of a compelling drama. Nonetheless, it's still worth watching. 

— 3.5 / 5 ⭐