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Bless the Child

Play trailer 2:14 Poster for Bless the Child R Released Aug 11, 2000 1h 47m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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4% Tomatometer 113 Reviews 43% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
When Maggie's sister Jenna saddles her with an autistic newborn named Cody she touches Maggie's heart and becomes the daughter she has always longed for. But six years later Jenna suddenly re-enters her life and, with her mysterious new husband, Eric Stark, abducts Cody. Despite the fact that Maggie has no legal rights to Cody, FBI agent John Travis, takes up her cause when he realizes that Cody shares the same birth date as several other recently missing children.
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Critics Consensus

Bless the Child squanders its talented cast on a plot that's more likely to inspire unintentional laughs than shivers.

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Critics Reviews

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Dave McCoy Seattle Times A biblical "thriller" so predictable and preposterous that everyone involved should be banished to the confessional for their sins. Rated: 1/4 Jul 22, 2014 Full Review Alexander Walker London Evening Standard I don't know if I'm getting more squeamish, or simply less charitable at being exploitatively manipulated and taken for a moron: possibly both. But I think others will share my disgust at several scenes in Bless The Child. Jul 22, 2014 Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle A pox on the house of all involved. Rated: 0/5 Jun 3, 2013 Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com ...a fun good-bad movie with some plot points to savour... Rated: 3/5 Nov 30, 2023 Full Review Louis B. Hobson Jam! Movies Bless the Child is unsettling but it is never really terrifying. It's closer to a scary dream than a true nightmare. Jul 22, 2014 Full Review Dennis King Tulsa World This mystical saga of good versus evil gets a very low grade for originality, packing in as it does too many of the same acrane-mysterioso bits of religious imagery, moody thriller gimmicks and climactic machismo antics as the earlier films. Jul 22, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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John A Great film and while I suppose it's hard to call it a horror the story is good. I honestly think the poor reviews are because it's about God and people hate it, then the over religious nuts will be offended so leaves little room for people who just enjoy a good film. If your not a religious nut or someone who condeems a film because it's has God in it and actually shows good in people then you will enjoy this film. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/02/24 Full Review Carmel K Guilty pleasure of mine! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/14/24 Full Review Stephen A "Bless The Child" - Holy Thrills, Unholy Chills, and a Divine Child. "Bless The Child," a 2000 millennium religious-based horror flick, is like a Sunday sermon with a devilish twist. The film doesn't reach the divine heights of "The Omen," but it's a serviceable entry in the genre, like a less-then-holy communion wine. This time, there's no Antichrist making his grand entrance, but rather, a child handpicked by the big guy upstairs to bring the flock back into his fold. Of course, Satan's not one to sit idly by, so he dispatches one of his minions to find the child and put an end to this holy disruption. The concept is intriguing, but it's as though the filmmakers threw a handful of twists at the wall to see what stuck. Some tighter structuring and fleshing out of the supernatural elements would've made this a heavenly horror experience. The cast does their best with what they're given, with robust performances abound. Rufus Sewell's Eric Stark needed to be slightly more ominous and sinister. Moreover, Kim Basinger's Maggie O'Conner could've used a bit more physical and emotional presence in her battle with the forces of darkness. The direction and pacing are commendable, with some visually captivating shots that add a layer of intrigue. The special effects, considering the time, hold up well. The CGI rats may look like they've had a bad fur day, but those red eyes are positively chilling. One of the best FX is the smoky flying demons, fluttering ominously around and driving the dark apostles to commit vicious and atrocious crimes. And let's not forget the impressive spectacle of Satan's grand entrance, assembled from millions of red-eyed rodents. In conclusion, "Bless The Child" is a delightful slice of hocus pocus that won't make you repent for watching it. It's an excellent choice for a cosy evening in the dark, snuggled up with your love and a steaming coffee. So, frantically grab your holy water and popcorn, and let the religious rollercoaster take you for a unique spin. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/09/23 Full Review Tera K I understand that this isn't an award-winning film and may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I don't understand some of the negative reviews. I feel people are taking it too seriously or are perhaps offended by the message. I enjoyed this film a lot, it's a fun thriller with good acting and a decent storyline. There's not much else I require when it comes to this genre. Rufus Sewell and Angela Bettis were especially great, Bettis is really underrated. As long as you're not expecting a Meryl Streep film, I recommend it! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/13/23 Full Review Qasim R This movie has worst VFX . Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Steve D Effective enough but nothing new. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Maggie's sister Jenna saddles her with an autistic newborn named Cody she touches Maggie's heart and becomes the daughter she has always longed for. But six years later Jenna suddenly re-enters her life and, with her mysterious new husband, Eric Stark, abducts Cody. Despite the fact that Maggie has no legal rights to Cody, FBI agent John Travis, takes up her cause when he realizes that Cody shares the same birth date as several other recently missing children.
Director
Chuck Russell
Producer
Mace Neufeld
Screenwriter
Thomas Rickman, Ellen Green, Clifford Green, Thomas Rickman
Distributor
Icon Entertainment International, Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, BTC Productions KG, Icon Entertainment International
Rating
R (Drug Content|Brief Language|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 11, 2000, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.4M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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