Horror movies usually rely on a guy in a mask or a ghost jumping out of a closet to get a rise out of you. But then there’s Nanny. When it hit Sundance in 2022 and eventually landed on Amazon Prime, it didn't just scare people—it made them feel incredibly uncomfortable in a way that’s hard to shake off. Directed by Nikyatu Jusu, this film isn’t your typical slasher. It’s a psychological pressure cooker.
Honestly, the way Jusu blends West African folklore with the harsh reality of being an undocumented worker in New York City is kind of brilliant. You’ve got Anna Diop playing Aisha, a Senegalese woman trying to save enough money to bring her son to the U.S. She takes a job working for a wealthy couple in the Upper East Side. On the surface, it’s a standard "fish out of water" story. But the movie quickly turns into something much darker.
It’s about the "American Dream" being more of a nightmare.
What Most People Miss About The Nanny
People tend to focus on the supernatural elements, like Mami Wata or Anansi the Spider. Those are cool, sure. They’re visually stunning. But the real horror in Nanny is the everyday exploitation. Have you ever noticed how the "villains" aren't monsters? They're just people who forget to pay their employees on time. That’s terrifying.
Aisha is trapped. She’s working for Amy (Michelle Monaghan) and Adam (Morgan Spector). They seem "progressive." They’re the kind of people who probably have "In This House We Believe" signs but won't pay for overtime. That specific tension—the polite, smiling face of exploitation—is where the movie really lives. It’s basically a masterclass in atmospheric dread.
Jusu won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance for this, and for good reason. She was the first Black female director to take home that specific trophy. That’s a huge deal. It’s not just a "nanny the movie" trivia point; it signifies a shift in whose stories get told in the horror genre.
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The Folklore is More Than Just a Gimmick
In the film, we see recurring imagery of water and spiders. This isn't just random "scary stuff." It’s deeply rooted in West African mythology. Mami Wata is a water deity, often portrayed as a mermaid, who is both beautiful and dangerous. Anansi is the trickster god.
For Aisha, these figures aren't just myths; they're manifestations of her psyche. She’s literally drowning in her responsibilities. Every time she sees a vision of her son or feels the presence of these spirits, it’s the movie's way of saying her past and her cultural identity won't let her be erased by the sterile, white-walled apartment she works in.
It's sorta like the spirits are trying to wake her up. Or maybe they're trying to pull her under. It depends on how you look at it.
The Reality of "The Nanny" in 2026
Looking back at the film now, its themes have only become more relevant. The "care economy" is still a mess. Domestic workers, often women of color, remain some of the most vulnerable people in the labor market. When you watch Nanny, you aren't just watching a horror flick. You're watching a critique of a system that relies on the labor of mothers who are forced to leave their own children behind to care for someone else's.
Specific details matter here. Think about the scene where Amy "forgets" to pay Aisha. It’s played off as a minor oversight. But for Aisha, it’s a catastrophe. That power dynamic is the engine of the film. It makes the supernatural hauntings feel justified, in a weird way. If the world is going to treat you like a ghost, why not start acting like one?
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- The Cast: Anna Diop is a powerhouse. Her performance is subtle. She says so much with just a look of exhaustion.
- The Cinematography: Rina Yang uses color in a way that feels lush but oppressive. The blues of the water and the harsh whites of the apartment clash constantly.
- The Ending: No spoilers, but it’s polarizing. Some people find it hopeful; others find it devastating. It’s the kind of ending that stays with you for days.
Why It Isn’t Just Another "Domestic Thriller"
Usually, movies about nannies follow a predictable path. Think The Hand That Rocks the Cradle. In those movies, the nanny is the villain. She’s the interloper coming to steal the husband or the life of the "perfect" mother.
Jusu flips that script.
Aisha is the protagonist. We are seeing the world through her eyes. The "perfect" family is the source of the rot. It’s a total subversion of the genre. Instead of the "evil nanny" trope, we get a story about the evil of indifference. It’s much more grounded and, honestly, much more upsetting.
Real-World Impact and Critical Reception
When Nanny hit the festival circuit, critics were tripping over themselves to praise it. It holds a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason. But beyond the scores, it sparked real conversations.
Journalist Salamishah Tillet noted in The New York Times how the film bridges the gap between the immigrant experience and the "haunted house" genre. It's about being haunted by the people you left behind. That's a universal feeling for anyone who has moved far from home, but it's amplified by the high stakes of Aisha's situation.
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Critics often compare it to Get Out or His House. Those comparisons make sense because all these films use horror to talk about race and belonging. But Nanny feels more intimate. It’s less about a grand conspiracy and more about the quiet, slow-motion car crash of a life lived in the margins.
Technical Brilliance You Might Have Missed
The sound design is haunting. If you listen closely, the sound of water is everywhere. It’s a low hum that never really goes away. It mirrors the feeling of being overwhelmed.
And let's talk about the wardrobe. Aisha’s clothes are vibrant and full of life, contrasting sharply with the minimalist, beige-and-gray aesthetic of her employers' home. It’s a visual representation of her soul trying not to get swallowed by her surroundings.
- Watch it with subtitles: Especially during the scenes involving folklore. There’s a lot of linguistic nuance you might miss if you aren't paying close attention.
- Research Mami Wata: Understanding the deity’s history makes the film's climax hit ten times harder.
- Pay attention to the meals: Food is a major motif. What people eat—and who prepares it—says everything about their status in the house.
Actionable Insights for Film Buffs
If you’re looking to get the most out of Nanny, don't just watch it as a horror movie. Treat it as a psychological character study.
- Compare it to Roma: If you've seen Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, watch Nanny right after. Both deal with domestic labor but from completely different tonal perspectives.
- Follow Nikyatu Jusu’s career: She’s currently working on a reimagining of Night of the Living Dead. Given how she handled the social commentary in Nanny, that project is likely to be a massive cultural touchstone.
- Look for the "Invisible" Characters: Notice how the film treats other domestic workers Aisha encounters. There’s a sense of solidarity and shared struggle that provides the movie's only real moments of warmth.
The film serves as a reminder that the most terrifying things aren't always in the shadows. Sometimes they're sitting right across from you at the dinner table, smiling and asking if you've finished the laundry. It's a heavy watch, but a necessary one.
To truly understand the layers of Nanny, one should look into the "invisible" labor force in major cities like New York. Organizations like the National Domestic Workers Alliance provide real-world context for the struggles Aisha faces. Seeing the statistics on wage theft and lack of legal protections for domestic workers makes the film’s "horror" elements feel less like fantasy and more like a heightened version of reality.
Watch the film again with an eye for the power dynamics in every room. Notice who sits, who stands, and who is allowed to speak first. These small directorial choices are what elevate Nanny from a simple genre flick to a piece of high art that demands multiple viewings.