 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Bless the Child
- Review Date: July 6, 2003
- R
- Genre: Horror
- 2002
Common Sense Media says
No way if your kids get nightmares.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that grisly images and the portrayal of a drug addict make this inappropriate for many younger teens. Parents should know that creepy images abound: flying satanic creatures, swarming rats, child corpses scarred with symbols of evil, etc. A 6-year-old is repeatedly threatened, at one time she's dangled from a rooftop. Good and evil spirits often appear.
What's the story?
Given up by her unstable mother, Jenna is raised by Maggie (Kim Basinger). When Jenna turns 6, her birth parents steal her away from Maggie, who turns to detective Travis (Jimmy Smits) for help. Together, Maggie and Travis learn that other children born on the same day as Jenna have also been abducted, and the clues lead them to a group of Satan worshippers.
Is it any good?
If your teen is at all prone to nightmares and can't stomach moderate gore then this movie isn't for your family. And search elsewhere for your thrills if you're at all offended by any of the following: the Catholic church's struggle against actual forces of darkness; an unconvincing Kim Basinger as an overwrought mother-figure; a frightfully uninspired script; and a movie that shamelessly manipulates audience emotion by rolling out the issue of child abduction.
So who will get some enjoyment out of this one? Fans of Jimmy Smits' character from NYPD Blue. Smits plays the same character here--understated professionalism, low-key sense of caring, and humorless sex appeal. Also, B-movie horror buffs who will take their chills in any form and enjoy a few laughs at the movie's expense should get their money's worth.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what they like in a spooky movie. What are some of your favorite scary movies, and why?
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AGE
O_o
this movie is really odd and freaky if you want to watch it with your child fine but the child better be too young to understand this movie
1 or younger would be fine or 17 +
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AGE
Bless The Child-or die.
First off,this movie isn't for anyone under 13.I seen this when I was 8 or 9 and though I am an extremely hardcore viewer(the Exorcist didn't even make me flinch) I got freaked out a couple of times.Its very very scary and images of dead corpses and children suddenly appearing may freak people out.The little girl appears suddenly out of nowhere at 2 times probably and this is completely out of nowhere,very freaky.Suggest strong caution letting children see this.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Chuck Russell |
| Cast: | Jimmy Smits, Kim Basinger, Rufus Sewell |
| Genre: | Horror |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | August 13, 2002 |
| DVD release date: | August 13, 2002 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | violence, drugs, sexuality, language |
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