Rating: 
Summary: Clone of a clone of an 'Exorcist' clone
Review: Kim Bassinger did an interview in which she said the took the lead role in Bless the Child because it told a good story. Like many of the works of Stephen King, Bless the Child shows that some stories that read well don't necessarily film well. Around Christmas Eve, Maggie O'Connor [Bassinger] gets a surprise visit from her drug addicted younger sister, Jenna [Angela Bettis], who brings with her a daughter who's only a few days old. Within minutes Jenna has fled, leaving baby Cody in Maggie's care. A few years later Jenna still hasn't surfaced, and Maggie is raising the child alone. Cody has been diagnosed with autism, but Maggie, who is herself a nurse, doesn't necessarily agree with the doctors. While Cody is withdrawn, she is responsive and loving. Jenna reappears one day with her new husband, Eric [Rufus Sewell]. They demand that Cody be turned over to them at once. Eric heads a vast and mysterious New Age cult, and Jenna claims to be drug free. Maggie refuses to give up custody. You guessed it. Eric is literally in league with the devil, and what follows is a fight for Cody's soul. It seems the child has been chosen as the prize in yet another earthly battle between God and Satan. The movie is one of dozens that have been spawned over the years as the result of the successes of The Exorcist and The Omen. The themes of Bless the Child are not as dark, in that the ideas of free will and the power of good are emphasized. It is the tired old tools of the horror genre that bring it down. Once again, the Catholic church is used as the only religious power on earth that can recognize evil forces and that has the tools to battle them. Yet, as always, the people the church employs to fight evil come across as lunatics and fruitcakes. No wonder we are doomed to defeat. Who could be expected to trust, much less believe in, these crazies? Why does cinema Satan always use the same old tricks? Can't anyone think of some new ones? Kim Bassinger gives a decent performance as Maggie. Eight-year old Holliston Coleman is acceptably creepy as Cody, although she doesn't have much to do other than appearing to be in trance all the time. Both actress are upstaged by Angela Bettis and Rufus Sewell who remind us that playing the bad guys can be the best roles there are, especially in mediocre movies.
Rating:
Summary: A WEAK SUPERNATURAL THRILLER.
Review: I honestly doubt that "Bless The Child" would have been made had it not been for the huge success of "The Sixth Sense". Several supernatural movies followed in its wake and hoped to make the same kind of big box office dollars. Most were a waste of film...including this one. For the record, I am a huge Kim Basinger fan and I was thrilled that she was finally honored by her peers after her magnificent performance in "L.A. Confidential". She did what she could with her role in this movie but it was hopeless to salvage much out of the material she was given. "Bless The Child" starts out with Maggie (Basinger) arriving home and finding her junkie sister Jenna (Angela Bettis) standing out front with a nine day old baby in her arms. She brings the baby inside and then runs out the door. Maggie spends the next six years raising this special little girl, played quite well by newcomer Holliston Coleman. Nobody is exactly sure what is different about her. Perhaps it's autism...perhaps not. It starts out rather interesting but quickly drops off into a silly and predictable flick that's basically about good vs. evil or God vs. Satan. I personally feel that a similar story line was handled much better in "Stigmata". The special effects don't help the matter much either. You get to see a couple scenes of computer generated rats which look completely phony. The ending is over the top similar to "The Haunting" (1999). I just hope that Basinger stays away from any more roles like this because she deserves so much better.
Rating: 
Summary: The BEST!
Review: I loved this movie!! I've seen so many times and love it more eatch time. IT shows the battle of good and evil! I swear I cry every time I watch it!
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Close to the Truth than you think!!
Review: I watched this Hollywood production & was very pleasantly surprised that, for the most part, it is right on! Many see this as fiction, but in essence, there is more Truth to this movie than people can imagine! Open your eyes & heart & watch this movie! Base it on the most part as a true story, at least the basis of it. Then, let your heart go from there! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Bless the Child
Review: I loved this movie. I watch a lot of movies and this one has it all. Suspense, Drama, Action, Excellent Special Effects and Horror! I'm not sure why this movie has lame reviews but if you ask me it is sadly under rated. This movie was suprisingly uplifting, maybe that's why some don't like it, it's not 'The Omen' in fact it's the complete opposite and that's what I loved about it and found very encouraging. This day and age everyone wants to blame God for all the bad in the world and this movie shows that it's not God but Satan that underminds the weak minded. Again, probably another reason why some don't like this movie. I'm suprised Kim Basinger agreed to play this role. I'm under the impression that she's a huge, NONE beleiveing in God, liberal. As the movie says, 'Satan's best work was getting people to beleive there is no God, or Satan, at all.' This is true in real life too. There's so many people who only beleive in themselves and only what they can see. ALSO: The Theory of EVOLUTION, Satans best work indeed. Have you been dooped? Anyway, at least rent it and you'll see what I mean, this movie is brilliant and I'm proud to have it in my DVD collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Cursed by CGI
Review: No matter how bad you may find "Bless the Child," do not think it is worthless. It is produced by Mace Neufeld, who also produced "Omen" 25 years ago, so if you like the latter, you may take a look at "Bless the Child." The problem is this; "Bless the Child" looks as if it wants to satisfiy the audience at the sacrifice of coherence and probability. Subtlity is thrown out of the script, even if there was such a thing in the first draft. Interesting thing is, the film succeeds to a certain degree by that method; but the success also means it killed its delicate side, which tries to depict the fight between the good and the evil. For example, Kim Basinger provides fairly good performance as a protector of a little girl who is wanted by a cult group. Her co-stars are also good, including Jimmy Smits, Rufus Sewell, Angela Bettis ("Girl Interrupted," "Sparrow"), all doing great job. On top of that, there is Christina Ricci. But, good as their actings are, they are not so memorable as they should be after all. The reason lies in the way the film is directed. As soon as emotional tension between the actors is created to inspire the familiar story, the director, discarding the inspiration, goes to CGI extravaganza next, to destroy the atomosphere delicately staged by actors. So, after you see Basinger playing the mother's role pretty impressively (touching), you see lots of rats swarming in a room (Uhh!). Or, after we see Angela Bettis showing a skillful acting as a distracted drug addict and cult member, we see ... eh, a car crashing on a bridge, or a policeman hit by a car (yes, car again). It is like riding a roller-roaster, and sometimes creepy, to be sure, but the thrill gets thinner as he film goes on. Like "The Exocist," the film portrays the ultimate battle between the good and the evil, but fails to capture the sinister atomosphere of the masterpiece. So, let's face it. This is not a horror movie; it's more like a horror action movie, and you should make a new category for "Bless the Child." I enjoyed watching it, but I really doubt the actors are happy to see their efforts turned into a concocted chain of instant excitement. My conclusion: if you define good horror movies by a refined script with good acting, avoid it. If you're not, it's an OK film.
Rating:
Summary: Its a good movie....but...
Review: Bless The Child portrays the prototypical story of Good vs Evil effectively....to a point.The acting is hit & miss for the most part. Rufus Sewell portrays the role of a cult-leader nicely without going over the top. Jimmy Smits doesnt seem too inspired in this film, but nevertheless gives an okay performance. Holliston Coleman, the girl who plays Cody, does an excellent job in her role. Kim Basinger comes off bland throughout most of the movie, and the role Christina Ricci plays shouldve been extended to more than just two short scenes.The plot has obvious major holes that drag the movie down if you sit & disect them. And some scenes are ridiculously laughable / over-the-top. For example, a bird flys head-first into a Catholic-school window as Cody looks on. Next thing you know, all of the children are outside gathering around Cody as she holds it, while the nuns and Cody's aunt (Basinger) watch and laugh whole-heartedly, not caring about the health issues that could arise from a 6 year old girl holding a seemingly dead bird she picked up off the ground.Little things..Characters always being in the right place at the right time. Smits' character always finding clues and evidence that the dozens of cops at the scene seem to always overlook. Basinger not handing over key evidence that could save the child 30 minutes into the film, instead opting for the role of superhero and trying to infiltrate the premesis of a cult all by her lonesome. These along with other noticeable things bring down the film a few notches.However, the film is entertaining.If you sit and watch it just for the entertainment value and not for realism or disecting the plot, you should enjoy this movie. Its a solid story of good ultimately triumphing over evil, with a few thrilling moments along the way.
Rating: 
Summary: Unmemorable.
Review: The story plods along from scene to scene trying to hold the viewer's attention with a sloppy script and some pretty unremarkable special effects -- the highlight being the candles which "divinely" light up by themselves. This film pales in comparason to 25+ year old religious horror films such as The Omen,The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting perspective on spiritual warfare
Review: I'm not sure why a lot of people gave this movie poor reviews. It was a very well done movie with plenty of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Unlike a lot of supernatural thrillers (i.e. "End of Days"), "Bless the Child" requires less suspension of disbelief. Rather than humans in direct conflict with demons (how is it that humans always seem to be able to blow up or shoot demons, anyway?), humans are in conflict with other humans -- sometimes getting a glimpse into the supernatural realm and seeing the angels and demons at work behind the scenes. I'm not one who really gets into supernatural thrillers, but this movie was really good. Unlike a lot of supernatural thrillers, this movie didn't seem to twist common religious beliefs to make a great film. If anything, the movie portrays a believable struggle between good and evil -- both in our world, and in the spiritual world.
Rating:
Summary: I love this movie!!
Review: This movie was admittedly predictable in some ways, but the atmosphere of the entire film was what I loved. Just the incredible feel of evil that seemed to creep up behind you every few minutes. That's mostly what this movie has going for it.
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