5.3 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A nurse raising the daughter of her troubled sister learns the girl has supernatural power and must protect her from evil forces hoping to harness it. She is aided by an FBI agent.
Starring: Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, Holliston Coleman, Rufus Sewell, Angela BettisHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 8% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 1.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
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.
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.
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" 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.
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