.jpg) |
 Supernatural Thriller Mankind's last hope just turned six |
The effects are excellent and the demonic elements are not overly done as a matter of fact is some cases their use is superb. Christians or Catholics will especially get the chills with this film. The idea of the second coming is something our religion does prophecise so it does reach deep into our sacred beliefs. The character that is the "second coming" is handled well and the dialogue between the new saviour and the tempter are well done. The basic gist of the film is one of omens and of the battle of good verses evil. This film will play decent on the big screen but it will probably do better in the video market so if you miss it in the theatres, make sure you catch it when it comes to video. Now on with our tale of children and demons and those trapped within the web of their machinations.
Maggie O'Connor (Kim Basinger) a quiet, introverted nurse leads a well ordered life in New York, until her sister appears. Jenna O'Connor played by Angela Bettis is a wayward sister which spends her life consumed by drugs and alcohol. On Christmas Eve she shows up at Maggie's doorstep with a newborn child named Cody. Jenna disappears the next morning leaving Maggie with the child. Maggie raises the child as her own and by age three this quiet little girl is considered to be autistic and seems to see and hear things that others do not.
Three years later Cody now played by the young Holliston Coleman attends a special Catholic school taught by nuns, who recognize something special in her. She seems to display extraordinary abilities, while in the streets more young children are being kidnapped. When these children are found murdered a special agent is brought in from the FBI. Jimmy Smits plays Agent John Travis an expert in ritual homicide and occult related crime. Through him the audience learns that all the children, murdered are 6 years old. Cody is now 6 as well and we see strange people monitoring her moves. After she brings a dead dove to life she is targetted for kidnapping. These kidnappers are looking for a special gifted child with special powers. She has them.
Jenna returns to enter Maggie and Cody's life. She comes with her new husband, the mysterious Eric Stark (Rufus Sewell). They want to take the child back with them but Maggie refuses to give her up. Strange visions come to Maggie in the night. The vision of rats is especially well done and chilling.
A dark and brooding young woman named Cheri Post Christina Ricci) enters the picture, coming to warn Maggie, to protect Cody as a group is out to kidnap her. Cheri has quit this organization and her life is now in danger. After the warning Cheri disappears. Maggie, now concerned goes to the police and is introduced to John Travis who tries to calm her but he realizes there is some type of connections. Meanwhile Travis has discovered a connection to an old sect of devil worshippers. He connects a symbol left at the killings to BLACK EASTER.
Cody asks Maggie to take her to a church. Once there Cody witnesses the statue of The Virgin Mary crying. Later Maggie once again refuses to reliquish Cody to Jenna and Eric Stark. Stark, the leader of an organization, called THE NEW DAWN uses a strange woman, Dahnya (Dimitra Arliss) to kidnap Cody while Maggie is subdued by another vision. When Maggie awakens she finds Cody gone; in panic she goes to Travis for help. She tells him about Stark. Stark is under investigation but they have to trend carefully because of the power he wields with strong politicians. Not getting the help she needs she decides to try and find this New Order organization. She is helped a little by Cheri, who once again disappears.
If this film had been longer they might have been able to explain and make clear to the audience the religious references made in the film. Some of these references seemed to bog down the film at times but they are necessary to the understanding of the events which did and will occur. Basically Eric Stark operates an anti-religion religion that has been waiting for the second coming of the Christ which has been prophecised. Stark has been kidnapping all children that seem to possess some abilities and that were born on December 16, 1993. This date is important because this was the night that King Herod, after meeting with the 3 Wise Kings that met baby Jesus, ordered the Slaughter of the Innocents. Remember, this was when he had all new born children slaughtered so that the "new King", Christ would not grow to threaten his life and rule. Christ, of course escaped this massacre. Now Stark must convert the new Christ child to the ways of Lucifer so that the second coming is averted. He must change Cody over to his side by Midnight of Easter Eve or he will have to kill her. Okay enough religious history. Go read the Bible if you want more information.
Now let's get back to Maggie who has met with Cheri once again. This time Cheri gives Maggie a gun and when she sees men coming for her, Cheri runs with Maggie following her. Maggie witnesses the killing. Travis in the meantime is stymied and he feels that he can not help save Cody. He is so distraught he prays for help. A black janitor appears and speaks with him and tells him to keep trying as he is not alone.
Maggie takes things into her own hands and goes after Stark to rescue Cody. Getting into the New Order building she threatens Stark with the gun. He either releases Cody or she will kill him. Needless to say this fails as Dahnya drugs her. When she wakes up she is in the middle of probably the best sequence in the movie which eventually leads to Maggie's death or does it.
Stark is still trying to tempt Cody into changing sides. This scene is of course reminiscent of Christ's 40 days in the desert where Satan attempts to tempt him. Cody's responses are excellent are well written and enjoyable.
Much begins to happen here and like I said the story tends to wander over to the Hollywood "let's blow up things" style of filmmaking. This film could have been made much better but hey if you like these kind of films, and I do, you will overlook much of it's drawbacks and get some fun out of this movie. If you want to read a decent book on the second comingm, then go to the library and pick up a copy of THE SECOND SON. Years ago it was scheduled to be made into a film but I don't think the technology was there but it is here now. I hope someone turns it into a movie someday.
You know, I like Kim Basinger, but the last two films she has made, I DREAM OF AFRICA and this one BLESS THE CHILD really are poor acting jobs on her part. Mind you she is much better in this film then in I DREAM OF AFRICA . So putting aside some of it's shortcoming go see BLESS THE CHILD it's worth the money.
