Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Bless the Child Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 27, 2023

There was a weird, unsettled vibe to the world as the year 2000 approached, and Hollywood was ready to exploit it, trying to cash in on the unknowns of the Y2K experience, turning to the ways of Heaven and Hell to do so. There was a brief uptick in religious chillers, with 1999’s “The Omega Code” and especially Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “End of Days” hoping to deliver some unsettling big screen experiences for audiences potentially in the mood to bask in creepiness, watching the forces of good and evil duke it out for control of humanity. While a little late to the party, 2000’s “Bless the Child” offers the same idea, with star Kim Basinger endeavoring to cash-in on her Oscar-winning performance in “L.A. Confidential,” taking the lead on a chiller involving a special child and her potentially unholy position as Satanists and guardians battle for custody. “Bless the Child” hopes to summon a thunderous level of threat, but ridiculousness wins the war here, finding director Chuck Russell struggling to land even a single moment of genuine suspense and fear while the material grows increasingly ugly to hold attention.

Maggie (Kim Basinger) has just freed herself from a bad marriage, living a single life after years of trying to start a family. Returning to view is her niece, Jenna (Angela Bettis), a junkie who’s recently given birth to a baby, electing to abandon the child while showing unclear concern for the newborn’s special ways. Maggie takes on the responsibility of parenthood, spending the next six years juggling her work as a psychiatric nurse with motherhood responsibilities, raising Cody (Holliston Coleman) to the best of her ability, with the girl possibly autistic. In the city, children are being murdered, with F.B.I. Agent Travis (Jimmy Smits) on the case, trying to find the perpetrator while understanding the crimes may be occult-related. When Jenna resurfaces to claim Cody, she’s joined by Eric (Rufus Sewell), a former child actor and current founder of the New Dawn self-help organization, which has plans for the little girl and her potential place as a new messiah for a Black Easter ceremony. Maggie isn’t going to give up Cody without a fight, working with Travis to understand Eric’s evil hold on his followers before an apocalyptic event takes place.

While Russell’s previous genre efforts are notable (“A Nightmare on Elm Street 3,” “The Blob” remake), his instincts for escapism are missing for “Bless the Child.” Certainly the material isn’t the helping the cause, with this adaptation of a Cathy Cash Spellman novel better left in book form, finding the details of the plot too ghastly for cinematic representation. “Bless the Child” is essentially about a Satanic cult kidnapping and murdering children to find their next messiah, and Russell doesn’t understand how to visualize such unpleasantness, electing to invest in child endangerment as he details an early abduction scene (and discovery of the boy’s dead body), and Cody is subjected to many near-death experiences as she’s threatened with being dropped off of a building, and a knife is held to her throat. So much for a roller coaster ride into evildoing, as much of “Bless the Child” is oppressive, with the production unsure if it wants to generate a fright factor or simply explore unpleasant violence in the post-“Seven” thriller marketplace.

There are potentially interesting subplots to explore in “Bless the Child,” primarily in Eric’s New Dawn organization, which totally, completely, absolutely isn’t based on Scientology, finding the villain in charge of desperate human beings who give Eric their money and full control of their lives. Maggie going up against that type of legal and psychological power would be something to see. And there’s Cody’s magic, with the little girl capable of resurrecting the dead, with the writing trying to get around this development without examining it in full. The picture is more interested in going the routine route for scares, with crude CGI employed to visualize rat attacks and demonic happenings, which Maggie is suddenly exposed to after suffering a brain injury, giving her some type of holy vision. Again, the material only gives a surface appreciation of such a profound event.

Bless the Child Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Bless the Child" offers an older master for the movie, which was originally released on DVD just over two decades ago. As aged viewing experiences go, this isn't too rough, with the basic cinematic appeal of the endeavor remaining with some noticeable softness. Detail is acceptable, capturing the basics in skin particulars and costuming. Interiors tour living spaces and churches, securing a mild sense of decoration. Exteriors are also passable as the action explores urban and rural areas with moderate depth. Colors are adequate, with a warmer feel for households and a cooler appreciation for street events. Demonic happenings pump up the reds and fiery oranges. Skin tones are natural. Grain is reasonably resolved. Delineation has some solidification issues.

Bless the Child Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix secures dialogue exchanges, with performances coming through clearly, while more heated encounters remain balanced. Scoring supports with orchestral authority, offering crisp instrumentation and emphasis. Surrounds are periodically active, pushing out music and exploring atmospherics, while some violent encounters are more defined, including activity inside a burning building. Low-end isn't too aggressive, adding some weight to chase sequences and character attacks.

Bless the Child Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features director Chuck Russell and visual effects supervisor Joel Hynek.

• "'Bless the Child' – A Look Inside" (9:44, SD) appears to be some type of promotional cable featurette, examining the creation of the film. Interview participants include director Chuck Russell, producer Mace Neufeld, and actors Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Rufus Sewell, and Christina Ricci, with most of these conversations captured during a press junket, eliminating any valuable post-mortem on the picture. The screenplay is highlighted, with production participants claiming to be drawn to the good vs. evil aspect of the writing, which was inspired by "The Omen" and "Rosemary's Baby." There's also some discussion of religious authenticity to "Bless the Child," though nobody backs that claim up. Casting is celebrated, but in a slightly creepy way, with Neufeld making sure to comment on Basinger's "physical beauty." The actress also describes co-star Smits as a "classy, classy gentlemen," and shares how "good looking" Sewell is. Genuine insight into the making of the endeavor isn't permitted here, which is a shame, as I'm sure most viewers have plenty of questions when it comes to the details of this picture.

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:21, SD) is included.

Bless the Child Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Bless the Child" has a lot of ideas and characters to inspect (Travis being an ex-seminary student is also fascinating), but Russell is more invested in turning the feature into a blunt instrument, staging car and foot chases, eventually reaching an absurd conclusion where the cult and Maggie clash, complete with goofy Satanic imagery best left for a Dio album cover. "Bless the Child" is weird in the way it has a certain potential for dark storytelling, but it also chooses to be either incomplete or idiotic, leaving Basinger to burn off her industry cred with a paycheck job that doesn't allow her to do much but look confused for much of the run time. It's a feeling sure to be shared by viewers.