The Twisted Nanny (2019 Lifetime)

The Twisted Nanny (2019 Lifetime)

Cast: Tara Erickson, Chantelle Albers, Joey Rae Blair

Listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast here!

Please buy me a coffee (or glass of 🍷) Support Lifetime Uncorked by leaving a $3 tip.

Synopsis (via Lifetime)

When single mother Julia realizes night nanny Olivia is turning her children against her, Julia must fight to prove that Olivia is not who she is before she gets custody of the kids for good.

Thoughts

A blonde lady gets into her car and is strangled to death. (Always check the back seat people.) The murderer steals a file on two children.

Cut to the two children fighting and being rude. Blane and Jessica are being taken care of by a night nanny named Olivia while their mother, Julia, takes some extra shifts. (She is a single parent and has to work overtime at her ambiguous office job.) Olivia is blonde and giving me a Suppernany (New episodes airing on Lifetime in 2020.) vibe, and Julia has brown hair and bangs and is anxious about leaving the kids. Julia has had trouble asking for help, especially since her husband died in a car crash.

The first day goes well, and Julia is impressed with Olivia. Olivia not only got the kids in bed in the middle of the day, but she also cleaned the house! Olivia is not expecting a nanny agency check-in. She tries to smooth things over, except the woman from the agency knows that the woman isn’t Olivia. Fake Olivia kills the lady from the agency with an umbrella and buries her in the back yard.

Olivia almost gets caught by the kids but makes up a lie about a horror movie or something stupid. Then she drugs their mom so she can have more time with the children manipulating them. Olivia makes the kids play a secret game, where they tell each other secrets, and she inserts lies about Julia leaving them.

Once Julia gets a day off, her kids are indifferent to her and have pretty much give her the silent treatment. Instead of working through their issues, Julia pours herself a glass of wine and calls Olivia to deal with the kids. When Olivia is back, the kids tell her that they don’t want to be with Julia, and Jula hears them. Olivia brushes it off as a phase and gives her more drugged water.

The phase doesn’t pass, and Olivia has replaced Julia as their primary caretaker. Olivia is even starting to drug them to keep them sick so she can “take care of them.” Julia has had it and confides in her co-worker. (Who speaks in cliches and excuses. She tells Julia she is overprotective and paraniod.) Julia doesn’t feel better but keeps working the late hours. Julia contacts the nanny agency about Olivia, and they assure her that she is the best nanny they have.

The principal calls Julia to share that her children are falling asleep in class and has received reports that she has been absent at home. He asks her to come in for a meeting to address their concerns. Olivia overhears the call and doubles down, telling Julia is unable to deal with her children/job responisblities. Julia tries to fire her, but Olivia blackmails her and will not accept being fired. (Julia calls the police.)

The police arrive for a chat with Olivia. The find bruises on the kids and assume that Julia is responsible and may be abusive. Olivia implies things aren’t right. The police end up having a chat with Julia and tell her that she needs to straighten up her act for her children’s safety and check herself. Child protective services are called. Julia loses custody of her children. Olivia gets temporary care, and Julia is dragged out of her house as paparazzi take pictures, then she gets fired from work.

With no one else to turn to, Julia has no choice but to cry in her car. Until she gets a call from Olivia’s thearpist, who asks Julia to meet her. Olivia’s real name is Maxine; she is extremely dangerous and is obsessed with having a family. Julia rushes home.

At home, Maxine finds Julia rummaging through her purse and pulls a knife on her. The kids hear screaming and come downstairs. Both women tell their side of the story. They realize that Olivia/Maxine was lying to them.

Olivia/Maxine knocks Julia out and ties her up to a chair; she also ties up the children. While Olivia/Maxine is doing her villain monologue, Julia tries to break free. She gets out just in time and stabs Olivia/Maxine in front of her children. The police arrive and immediately apologize for gaslighting Julia.

Olivia/Maxine gets away and finds another family to terrorize, could it be yours? Probably not!

Side Note

Minority Report: Martha

According to IMDB, the fans are really into Tara Erickson’s portrayal of Julia. (I thought she was okay?)

Don’t forget to listen to the Lifetime Uncorked Podcast available on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Donate to keep the blog and podcast going 😊

Overall rating

🔪🔪🔪 (3 Knives)

🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)