BLESS THE CHILD
US, 2000, 104 minutes, Colour
Kim Bassinger, Jimmy Smits, Rufus Sewell, Holliston Coleman, Ian Holm
Directed by Chuck Russell
For over thirty years, the movies have dramatised 'alternate' theological stories which have some kind of foundation in the scriptures. From Rosemary's Baby with its incarnation of Satan and the Omen series, through possession stories like The Exorcist to Millennial thrillers like End of Days, there has been a constant wondering up there on the screen, 'what if...?'. Bless the Child is not the best of these movies. However, it does take on a theme which has not appeared outside of the Gospel movies, that of the killing of the Holy Innocents while Jesus escaped death. The only biblical reference to this story is in Matthew 2 and its reference to Jeremiah 31.
As long as audiences do not take these movies as literal - which a generation unfamiliar with the stories at a spiritual level is in danger of doing - they can be seen as 'religious thrillers'. For those more in tune with the scriptures, they can form a bridge to the popular audience, helping them imagine the movie story and guiding them to a deeper understanding of the biblical text.
Just as you might be thinking that the writers do have the story of the Holy Innocents in mind, the screenplay makes it quite explicit. They introduce the Star of Jacob, declare December 16th the date of the birth of the wonderful child and have cruel people massacre the children, a variation on the contemporary interest in serial killers.
Kim Bassinger plays Maggie who has grown to love her adoptive daughter and wants to protect her at any cost. Jimmy Smits has worked on the television NYPD Blues so is no stranger to his role. British Rufus Sewell makes the guru a diabolically charming New Age phoney. Ian Holm has one scene as the priest who, unlike the vast majority of priests, has some inside knowledge to the arcane secrets of Satan worshippers. Director is Chuck Russell (The Mask, Eraser, The Scorpion King). Screenwriters, Cliff and Ellen Green, were also responsible for writing the similar, The Seventh Sign.
This kind of film is easily dismissed by critics as corny melodrama playing on a mixture of religion and superstition. But they do delve into the biblical stories.
1. The popularity of supernatural films, incarnation of the Devil? Satanism? The confrontation with Christianity?
2. The plausibility of the plot? The Star of Jacob, New York City, the chosen child, a girl, her being especially gifted, pursued by the Satanists? Her being asked to renounce God in order to give the power to the Satanists? The title and its implications?
3. The parallels with the Gospel stories, the Christ-child, the Star of Bethlehem, the massacre of the innocents? The parallels then with this plot?
4. The focus on Maggie, in the bus, the woman talking about the star, her own lack of faith, Catholic upbringing? Her work as a psychiatric nurse? The visit from Jenna? The baby, her disappearance, Maggie left with the child? The years passing? Maggie loving the child, sending it to a special child, its autism? The drawings, the help of the nuns?
5. The background of the serial killer, the children? The Satanist signs? The work of John Travis, his seminary background, knowledge of the occult? The FBI, the local police? His collaboration, investigations? His discussions with Maggie, the clashes? His following Cody?
6. Jenna's reappearance, her marriage to Eric? The scenes with Eric of the television show, self-help, a guru? Wanting Cody back? The visits to Maggie, her refusal? The smooth surface, the harsh threats?
7. The kidnapping of Cody, Maggie being distraught, the encounters with Travis? The link between the serial killings and Eric Stark? Cheri and her escape, her coming to Maggie, explaining about the dental appointment? Her murder? Stark's associates, their brutality with the children, with Cheri? The sequence with the little boy being abducted into the van and killed?
8. Eric and Cody, trying to persuade her to give up her faith? Her capacities for telekinesis, for healing? Maggie and the pursuit? Her taking Cody back, in the car?
9. The counter-abduction? Travis and his visit to the priest? The priest and his explanation of the rituals, Satanism? The help of the nun? The nuns in prayer?
10. The cult, Easter, the Black Easter ceremonial, the members of the group, the rituals, Eric in charge, Jenna and her being drug-ridden? The preparation for the sacrifice to Satan? Her own powers? The confrontation with Stark, his death and the fire? His shooting Maggie trying to shield Cody? Cody and her restoring Maggie to life?
11. The aftermath, Maggie and Cody, the cultist following, Cody turning to him and frightening him away? A future?
