Nanny (2022) is a compelling horror-drama that masterfully blends social commentary with supernatural tension. The film follows Aisha, a Senegalese immigrant working as a nanny for a wealthy Upper East Side family in New York City. As she saves money to bring her young son to America, Aisha begins experiencing disturbing visions and supernatural occurrences that blur the lines between psychological stress and genuine paranormal threat.

Anna Diop delivers a powerful, nuanced performance as Aisha, capturing both her quiet resilience and growing vulnerability. Director Nikyatu Jusu creates an atmosphere thick with dread, using the horror elements to explore themes of immigration, motherhood, and class disparity. The film's visual language is particularly striking, with water imagery serving as both a cultural touchstone and source of terror.

What makes Nanny worth watching is its unique approach to genre storytelling. Rather than relying on jump scares, the film builds psychological horror through Aisha's increasing isolation and the subtle ways her employers exploit her labor. The supernatural elements serve as metaphors for the immigrant experience—the haunting presence of what's been left behind, and the terrifying uncertainty of the American Dream. The supporting cast, including Michelle Monaghan as the seemingly perfect but complicated employer, adds layers to this examination of privilege and power dynamics.

For viewers seeking horror with substance, Nanny offers a fresh perspective that lingers long after the credits roll. Its Sundance Grand Jury Prize win recognizes how effectively it uses genre conventions to tell a deeply human story about sacrifice, cultural dislocation, and the ghosts—both literal and figurative—that follow us.