BLESS THE CHILD
A Paramount Picture release 

review by Joseph B. Mauceri

SYNOPSIS: Maggie O'Connor (Basinger) raises her infant niece, Cody (Coleman), when she is abandoned by her sister Jenna (Bettis). As Cody grows, Maggie realizes that she is a "special" child. Six years later, her sister returns with her husband Eric Stark (Sewell), and they abduct Cody. Aided by FBI agent John Travis (Smits), Maggie must find and rescue Cody before time runs out. Stark is an agent of evil who will try to turn Cody to the "dark side" or kill her.

Review: The various elements of BLESS THE CHILD might not be new, but their combination is. Over the last twenty years we've seen Satan's spawn battling for domination over the earth in film's like "Rosemary's Baby," "The Omen," and "The Exorcist." They offer audiences tales of demonic children wreaking havoc. With each successive film, special effects have pushed the story out of center stage.

BLESS THE CHILD focuses on a special child who could be mankind's salvation. At the core the plot uses two biblical themes, Herod's slaughter of the innocents and the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Director Chuck Russell is no stranger to effects driven films. He uses a mix of physical and digital effects to create atmosphere, suspense and scares. When Maggie begins to see evil minions, the digital effects have a dreamlike, delusional feel to them. Is what she seeing real, or a projection of her mind? The realistic effects reflect the physical violence of people against people in the film.

One of the interesting aspects of the story is the role of the supernatural elements. All too often we've seen angels and demons that have formidable influence on characters. In BLESS THE CHILD they have a more subtle effect. Each force can enter a situation and give it that final tip in one direction. However, it is up to the humans to have the faith and resolution to carry out a course of action to an end.

Russell lucks out with an amazing cast. Kim Basinger sells the part in one of her most memorable performances since "L.A. Confidential." She projects pain and loss, and renders a sense of confusion as to the events she is caught up in. Her character experiences a faith crisis, and you can really feel the internal struggle. Without a doubt, Basinger is the audience hook that sells the film. The other is Holliston Coleman, who is an exceedingly gifted young actress and a phenomenal find. At times she conveys quite, introspective attributes of an autistic child. There are scenes where she is a loving, knowing, old soul. She projects this marvelous beatific face to the camera. There are scenes with Sewell where she conveys an amazing sense of strength. The rest of the cast is up to the story at hand. However, I felt that Jimmy Smits was cast because of his work on "NYPD Blue." There is a side to his character that I fell is not fully explored. I think it could have added a bit more depth to the part.

You will be scared, jump out of your seat and scream! BLESS THE CHILD will keep you on the edge as it brings the horror home. The crew and cast stack suspense and tension against the audience to deliver a winning combination of thrills and chills. The "end of days" may have gone with a fizzle, but BLESS THE CHILD keep's terror alive in the new millennium.  Dare to be scared!

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
http://www.blessthechild.com

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