You might also like
Where to watch
Show all servicesThe Prodigy Videos
The Prodigy Photos
Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Sarah Blume
Miles Blume
John Blume
Arthur Jacobson
Edward Scarka
Margaret St. James
News & Interviews for The Prodigy
Critic Reviews for The Prodigy
All Critics (80) | Top Critics (20) | Fresh (33) | Rotten (47)
-
There are a couple moments when it works... [but] I would say go back and watch The Omen or The Bad Seed [instead].
September 18, 2019 | Full Review… -
Not even an amiable central performance from Taylor Schilling...and some early atmospheric mood-setting can save this "demon child" knock-off from its ineptitude.
March 15, 2019 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review… -
It's an unscary scary movie that quickly abandons the very thing that might have made it interesting...
March 14, 2019 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review… -
The emotion wasn't quite as earned as it should've been...but, for the majority of the run-time, I was impressed with the craftsmanship on display.
February 16, 2019 | Rating: B- | Full Review… -
McCarthy's film dips its toes into some stock scare tactics - the whistling tea kettle, the dark hallway, the creepy basement - while struggling to figure out whether it wants its third act to be a boring or bad-ass sort of bonkers-bananas.
February 8, 2019 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review… -
McCarthy's direction is so sleepy that a number of key scenes fizzle out before they can pay off with the next big jump scare.
February 8, 2019 | Rating: 1.5/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Prodigy
-
Jun 10, 2019A worthwhile build-up with a pretty "meh" payoff.Gimly M Super Reviewer
-
May 09, 2019Sleepily' directed is a good phrase and perfectly describes this film, which feels likes it's literally sleepwalking through cliches, with a woozy score, weirdly muffled sound-levels, and the occasional mechanical jump-scare entirely failing to liven things up. The kid is pretty good, in a generic tap-dancing actor-kid sort of way. Ugly lighting and sloppy editing don't help at all.Charles B Super Reviewer
-
Feb 13, 2019This was a very unusual story, but yet intriguing. I think the direction and camera work along with the acting from the young star are great. There were a lot of things that could have been better, but it is still worth the watch.Super Reviewer
-
Feb 10, 2019Iâ(TM)ve never been a huge fan of the horror genre, aside from a few gems that stand out to me. It takes a lot for a horror film to impress me, as the genre has become somewhat of the butt of many jokes these days. The Prodigy wasnâ(TM)t ever going to be the best horror film to come along in decades or anything like that, so I had no expectations when going into this one. With that said, this is the definition of a film that has a lot of promising elements, but ultimately fails to capitalize on them. I canâ(TM)t get myself to recommend this movie, but I also donâ(TM)t feel the need to rip it apart either. The Prodigy is a middle of the road experience at best, but there is some good in it. After failing to conceive a child for many years, a couple gains the happiness theyâ(TM)ve been seeking when it finally becomes possible. After just months of being born, Miles shows signs of being a genius, hence the title, The Prodigy. When mysterious things begin to occur due to his behaviour, religious beliefs and myths come to light and this film becomes incredibly intriguing. Without ruining what powers are really at work here, Iâ(TM)ll just say the twist of this story had me hooked. Itâ(TM)s a little silly an overly convoluted, but it worked in the context of the film. Sadly, thatâ(TM)s where most of my praise ends. With a solid cast including Taylor Schilling, Colm Feore, and young Jackson Robert Scott, theyâ(TM)re able to sell this material and make it very believable. The third act, however, is one of the dumbest conclusions to a film Iâ(TM)ve seen a while. To even get into it would be a spoiler, but it felt like the climax to a completely different film and it felt mean-spirited to me. Itâ(TM)s like a unique idea was building to something cool, but ultimately takes a super easy route out of the story and the fact that itâ(TM)s a child playing this certain role was slightly disturbing (in a bad way). In the end, The Prodigy is a horror film that benefits from a few great jump-scares that had me jumping out of my seat and some very devoted performances, but the movie truly does unravel by the time the credits roll. This is the worst kind of film to watch because itâ(TM)s not terrible by any means, but it doesnâ(TM)t fully embrace its premise. This movie was like watching a superhero film where the hero of the story tells you everything they can do, but never showcases much of that power. The Prodigy may please some viewers, but I found it to be a waste of potential and mean-spirited from start to finish. Even though I wasnâ(TM)t excited for this movie in any way, I was still disappointed.KJ P Super Reviewer
The Prodigy Quotes
There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.
Movie & TV guides
About Tomatometer
The percentage of Approved Tomatometer Critics who have given this movie a positive review
About Audience Score
The percentage of users who rated this 3.5 stars or higher.
Verified