Who was Jen?

Just some random friend or babysitter.

[deleted]

Gemini-82,

the same young girl is also in two short scenes at the very beginning of the movie when the family is watching tv and eating Chinese (?) food while Abbie's mom is looking through the report for the Governor in the other room. She's sitting on the right on the floor, and I guess she's Jimmy's nanny. But that's an assumption - I don't remember any explicit verbal elaboration of who she is?

The character is credited at the end of the movie named Jenna, played by actress Caroline Kane.

And, yes, it was weird for me too that her death had absolutely no impact on anyone or anybody! 

Best wishes,

janar

"Love [...] is the most incredible gift to give and to receive as a human being." - Ellen Page

I agree with all the above .. very strange and odd ..

The Boy refers to her as Aunt Jenna at one point before they are taken hostage.

It was Abbie and Stanley's fault. The bad guys do a drive by shooting, and they take their sweet time leaving the very house the bad guys had already been to that day?

The boy referred to Jen as "Aunt Jen", so I am thinking it is his father's sister. I don't think she was just a nanny who was a "play aunt" because Jen risked her life to protect the boy and Abbie.

As for no emotion being shown, Abbie was already running on adrenaline after the attempt on her and her husband's life and she had to keep a cool head to protect her and her son's life, especially when it became apparent that the home invaders wouldn't hesitate to kill them.

At the end of the movie, Stanley's postcard says:

"My darling Abbie,
I am alive and well thanks to you.
You truly are my daughter"

Abbie slipped the gun to Stanley when she barged into his hospital room. As a former covert agent, I expect that Stanley gave her some training in how to protect herself and how to think and act in adverse situations.

That complete lack of.... Anything, really took me out of the movie. Not a single reaction to, what I assume, is at least a close family friend.

Writers do this all the time with deaths. They forget to put weight to character's death, it's just sloppy writing. Even in bigger critically acclaimed films and shows you get the same screw up.