The Prodigy (D or 1/4 stars)
A happily married couple must unfortunately contend with the possibility that their 8 yr. old's body might contain the soul of a serial killer in 'The Prodigy' (directed by Nicholas McCarthy). For Sarah (Taylor Schilling, of Orange is the New Black) & John Bloom (Peter Mooney), they've gotten used to their 8 yr. old son, Miles (Jackson Robert Scott, cute), being intellectually advanced for his young age. But when he starts acts bizarrely at night - including speaking in Hungarian in his sleep - and then attacks a fellow classmate with a plumber's wrench, they enlist the help of a child psychologist & also a specialist named Arthur Jacobson (Colm Feore).
And before long, a horrifying possibility arises: Miles might have a reincarnated soul sharing his body & wanting to return to complete unfinished business. Little do they realize that it's the blackened soul of serial killer Edward Scarka (Paul Fauteaux) who was shot dead at the SAME time Miles was born, all due to one of his victims, Margaret St. James (Brittany Allen), managing to escape his clutches. As Sarah & John initially dismiss/then try to come to grips with the fact that their boy might be fighting a soul that wants to control his body ... they must face the mortal, deadly dangers that Miles presents to both them & others.
I found this film disturbing & not entertaining on any level. Some clever moments of direction & moody cinematography can't rescue this horror flick from mean-spiritedness, too-languorous pacing & some confounding horror cliches. While watching, it's easy to think of such other films like The Bad Seed, The Omen, The Exorcist, The Good Son, Orphan, among others -- but this one brings ABSOLUTELY nothing new to the genre that those other films have already brought. This is your standard possessed kid plot with some F words thrown in + a graphic description of a child rape. No thanks!
Now, this movie isn't "terrrrrible". As mentioned, director Nicholas McCarthy & cinematographer Bridger Nielson give us a few stolen moments & visuals that linger, jolt or entice {what horror films are supposed to do}. The opening scene, for instance, could have revealed too much, but the way it's presented, with some thoughtful collection of images, showed early promise that this film could be different; stand apart from those that came before.
Taylor Schilling & Peter Mooney are believable as a couple facing something unthinkable. Jackson Robert Scott impresses in a demanding role for a young child. But, as is usually the case with bad movies like this, the characters' IDIOTIC decisions cripple any tension or unique happenstance that may arise. Now, 'The Prodigy' does go to some dark, DARK places that other even-lesser horror movies go to, but even THAT isn't something particularly different or new. I'm not going to remember 'The Prodigy' in a few weeks' time. It's cruel. It's gross. It's not 'fun' scary. It's just a big 'ole miss for me.
And before long, a horrifying possibility arises: Miles might have a reincarnated soul sharing his body & wanting to return to complete unfinished business. Little do they realize that it's the blackened soul of serial killer Edward Scarka (Paul Fauteaux) who was shot dead at the SAME time Miles was born, all due to one of his victims, Margaret St. James (Brittany Allen), managing to escape his clutches. As Sarah & John initially dismiss/then try to come to grips with the fact that their boy might be fighting a soul that wants to control his body ... they must face the mortal, deadly dangers that Miles presents to both them & others.
I found this film disturbing & not entertaining on any level. Some clever moments of direction & moody cinematography can't rescue this horror flick from mean-spiritedness, too-languorous pacing & some confounding horror cliches. While watching, it's easy to think of such other films like The Bad Seed, The Omen, The Exorcist, The Good Son, Orphan, among others -- but this one brings ABSOLUTELY nothing new to the genre that those other films have already brought. This is your standard possessed kid plot with some F words thrown in + a graphic description of a child rape. No thanks!
Now, this movie isn't "terrrrrible". As mentioned, director Nicholas McCarthy & cinematographer Bridger Nielson give us a few stolen moments & visuals that linger, jolt or entice {what horror films are supposed to do}. The opening scene, for instance, could have revealed too much, but the way it's presented, with some thoughtful collection of images, showed early promise that this film could be different; stand apart from those that came before.
Taylor Schilling & Peter Mooney are believable as a couple facing something unthinkable. Jackson Robert Scott impresses in a demanding role for a young child. But, as is usually the case with bad movies like this, the characters' IDIOTIC decisions cripple any tension or unique happenstance that may arise. Now, 'The Prodigy' does go to some dark, DARK places that other even-lesser horror movies go to, but even THAT isn't something particularly different or new. I'm not going to remember 'The Prodigy' in a few weeks' time. It's cruel. It's gross. It's not 'fun' scary. It's just a big 'ole miss for me.