Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.0

Child in the Night Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 7, 2021

1990’s “Child in the Night” endeavors to understand in the inner workings of a child traumatized by violence. It’s a T.V. offering that’s not engineered to go too deep into psychological pain, but writer Michael Petryni has a few ideas on the nature of compartmentalization in children that have merit, connecting the fantasy of “Peter Pan” to the horrors of a real-world crime. It’s the execution from director Mike Robe that has some trouble figuring out how to bring such feeling to the small screen, creating a thriller that teeters on the edge of self-parody at times, but retains a moderate amount of dramatic power thanks to a cast of professionals who know how to do something with periodically mediocre writing.

Luke (Elijah Wood) is a young boy who’s witnessed his father’s murder, unable to process the horrible situation as he mourns the loss of his dad. Detective Bass (Tom Skerritt) is on the case, soon realizing the child is the only witness to the crime, calling in psychologist Hollis (JoBeth Williams) to take over questioning. Reluctant to return to the field of child psychology after a troubled history in the profession, Hollis is drawn to the boy’s case, with Luke trying to communicate his feelings through the story of Peter Pan and Captain Hook. While Bass questions the dead man’s friends and family, and Hollis gets closer to Luke, the adults also find themselves developing feelings, forced to confront their own issues in the process.

“Child in the Night” isn’t an explicitly violent picture, but the crime Luke witnesses is fairly intense, with the scene involving the death of a parent and a child’s last moment with his father. It’s a grim opening to a somewhat silly mystery, but such sternness is appreciated, helping to get the feature off on the right foot, introducing Bass, a meat-and-potatoes cop, and Hollis, a more refined professional who’s recently exited a marriage. She’s not interested in the case due to personal reasons, but Bass isn’t taking no for an answer, launching an investigation that finds the pair dealing with the deceased’s shifty business partners, Luke’s mother (Season Hubley), and his grandfather (Darren McGavin). It’s a tangle of suspects and secrets, which is mildly compelling, and there’s Luke, who resides in the world of “Peter Pan” to deal with his horror. Unwisely, the production elects to visualize these fantasy moments, which briefly turns “Child in the Night” into bad community theater.

Child in the Night Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm interpositive," "Child in the Night" comes to Blu-ray with an AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Costuming is alert in the feature, with interesting textures on the outfits, which examine sequins, ribbed sweaters, and silky nightgowns. Detail remains with facial particulars, giving close-ups power, and Seattle locations retain dimension. Colors are compelling, preserving the overcast appeal of the location with gray skies and rich greenery, and skintones are natural throughout. Clothing ranges from darker hues for adults to fantasy reds and greens for "Peter Pan" sequences. The aforementioned nightgown is powerfully blue. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Child in the Night Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix offers a wider sense of listener engagement, dealing with sharp dialogue exchanges and balanced emotional outbursts. Scoring is sharp, with distinct instrumentation and support, gently supporting shifting moods. Atmospherics are compelling, visiting yacht construction sites and waterfront activity.

Child in the Night Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Essay (14:39) features film historian Amanda Reyes.

Child in the Night Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The "Peter Pan" subplot is rooted in real psychologically, but bringing it to life is a mistake, leaving "Child in the Night" with a few unintentional laughs, including one whopper (you'll know it when you see it). Keeping the picture on its feet are Skerritt and Williams, who visibly work to make their moments count, endeavoring to bring some level of dramatic power to the writing, which has their characters become flirtatious during a murder investigation involving a child who, at one point during the story, tries to kill himself. That there's any warmth to this pairing is a testament to the actors and their commit to the overall weirdness of "Child in the Night."