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Bless The Child on DVD (2000)

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Average rating: 58%
14287209714
3.0
from 248 members
 
Starring: Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Holliston Coleman, Rufus Sewell, Angela Bettis, Christina Ricci, Lumi Cavazos, Ian Holm, Dimitra Arliss
Director: Charles Russell
Studio: ICON HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 107 mins
Certificate: 15
Genres: Horror
Languages: English
Hearing-impaired: English
Subtitles: English
Released: 09/07/2001

Brief synopsis of Bless The Child

Maggie O'Connor (Kim Basinger) is an ordinary single woman whose life is turned upside down by the sudden appearance of her long-lost sister Jenna, a drug addict who drops off her newborn daughter and disappears again. Maggie adopts the girl, Cody, as her own and raises her, forming a close mother-daughter bond. Years later, as Cody begins to exhibit some strange and otherworldly abilities, a number of local children are found brutally murdered--all children who were born on the same date as Cody. Suddenly Maggie's sister reappears, now married to the mysterious Eric Stark (Rufus Sewell), leader of the New Dawn Foundation, an unusual self-help movement. After the sinister Stark kidnaps Cody, Maggie must team up with police officer John Travis (Jimmy Smits) and friends from her church to stop Stark's diabolical plans and keep Cody safe. A religious horror movie in the tradition of ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE OMEN, with excellent (and creepy) special effects and a no-holds-barred battle between the forces of good and evil, BLESS THE CHILD depicts Maggie as a woman who will do anything to save the only daughter she's ever had. The film, directed by Chuck Russell, is based on the novel by Cathy Cash Spellman.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 2 stars out of 5 Radio Times

One minute Kim Basinger's winning an Oscar for LA Confidential, the next she's starring in this below-average supernatural yarn, which seems to be trying to emulate The Omen in its battle for control of a “special” child. Basinger plays a nurse who rears her drug-addicted sister's baby as her own, until the sister turns up with a creepy new husband (Rufus Sewell) and demands the return of the youngster, who's started to manifest all sorts of magical powers. It's not long before Basinger realises that swarms of rats and circling demons may signal something evil, and she teams up with an FBI officer (Jimmy Smits) to track the child down. It's all utter nonsense, but entertaining in a daft sort of way, though Christina Ricci is shamefully wasted in an irrelevent supporting role.

Halliwell's Film Guide

Dim-witted horror movie with a feeble, derivative narrative and risible angelic interventions whenever inspiration reaches rock-bottom.

Time Out

Oscar winner Kim Basinger's search for a strong female role to follow LA Confidential has taken her down a particularly... Read more on www.timeout.com

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 3 starsGive this a go

goldenknut from berkshire , 20/01/2005

Had never heard of this film before, but thought I`d give it a try, and was glad I did...

If you liked arnie`s film 'End of Days' then rent this too!

  4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsPuts kim in a different light!

Dan Pye from Manchester, England , 16/09/2005

Much better than I could have anticipated from a film starring Kim Basinger. Rufus Sewell is also well cast as the bad quy - has he ever played a goodie?

More edge of the seat rather than behind the cushion. Not much of a horror with little blood and gore. I would class this as a supernatural thriller rather than classic horror.

All in all, actors play convincing roles and it gets better as it goes on - well worth a watch.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsWorth a watch!

JohnnyRoss from Leeds , 31/12/2003

I thought I was heading for an 'Exorcist' night when I started to watch this, but it concentrates more on the goodness of life than evil forces. The film dwells in same genre as 'Stigmata' as is a good entertainer, though can sometimes be a little boring at places. All in all, a good watch.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 stars

joanne#48 from WINDSOR , 14/07/2004

movie was gripping from start to finish. not the most original story but watchable if you like a good thriller

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 starsWorth a watch!

JohnnyRoss from Leeds , 31/12/2003

I thought I was heading for an 'Exorcist' night when I started to watch this, but it concentrates more on the goodness of life than evil forces. The film dwells in same genre as 'Stigmata' as is a good entertainer, though can sometimes be a little boring at places. All in all, a good watch.

  2 out of 3 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsPuts kim in a different light!

Dan Pye from Manchester, England , 16/09/2005

Much better than I could have anticipated from a film starring Kim Basinger. Rufus Sewell is also well cast as the bad quy - has he ever played a goodie?

More edge of the seat rather than behind the cushion. Not much of a horror with little blood and gore. I would class this as a supernatural thriller rather than classic horror.

All in all, actors play convincing roles and it gets better as it goes on - well worth a watch.

  2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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