THE PRODIGY

Jackson Robert Scott

THE PRODIGY (2019). Director: Nicholas McCarthy.

Sarah (Taylor Schilling) and John Blume (Peter Mooney) are raising a young boy, Miles (Jackson Robert Scott), who seems extremely smart and a bit different from his schoolmates. None of that is especially disturbing, until Miles starts committing decidedly anti-social acts, playing a cruel trick on a babysitter and killing the family dog. Under the influence of a man named Arthur Jacobson (Colm Feore), Sarah becomes convinced that her son is the reincarnation of a notorious serial killer, Edward Skarka (Paul Fauteux), who died the day that Miles was born, and worse, that the killer is slowly taking over Miles' consciousness. Sarah figures that Skarka has come back because he wants to finally kill Margaret St. James (Brittany Allen), the only one of his victims to get away from him. But how far will Sarah go to protect her child? 

Taylor Schilling

It's a bit surprising that The Prodigy deals with reincarnation, as it is a concept that was much more popular many years ago, with such movies as The Search for Bridey Murphy (based on a true if discredited case), Audrey Rose, and The Reincarnation of Peter Proud. I wish that the movie had, perhaps, added a few twists to the formula, but on its own terms it is well-acted, suspenseful, and well-made. Young Jackson Robert Scott gives an outstanding performance as the affected child. You don't have to believe in reincarnation to enjoy the movie. 

Verdict: Absorbing and ultimately quite depressing horror-thriller. ***.