Bless the Child (2000)

Director:

Chuck Russell

Writers (WGA):

Cathy Cash Spellman (novel)
Thomas Rickman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 August 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

Fear the Darkness. Fight the Evil. Bless the Child.

Plot:

Omens and concepts of good vs. evil have no place in Maggie O'Connor's well-ordered, practical universe...

Plot Keywords:

Omen | FBI | Nurse | Troubled Teen | Autism

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Jan. 2	8:25 AM	TMC
Tue. Jan. 5	10:00 PM	TMC
Mon. Jan. 11	2:15 PM	TMC

Cast

Kim Basinger	...	Maggie O'Connor
Jimmy Smits	...	Agent John Travis
Holliston Coleman	...	Cody O'Connor
Rufus Sewell	...	Eric Stark
Angela Bettis	...	Jenna O'Connor
Christina Ricci	...	Cheri Post
Michael Gaston	...	Det. Frank Bugatti
Lumi Cavazos	...	Sister Rosa
Dimitra Arliss	...	Dahnya (as Dimitra Arlys)
Eugene Lipinski	...	Stuart
Anne Betancourt	...	Maria
Ian Holm	...	Reverend Grissom
Helen Stenborg	...	Sister Joseph
Matthew Lemche	...	New Dawn Kid at Van
Dan Warry-Smith	...	New Dawn Kid
Elisabeth Rosen	...	New Dawn Kid
Tony Del Rio	...	New Dawn Kid
Nicole Lyn	...	New Dawn Kid
Michael McLachlan	...	New Dawn Kid
Jonathan Malen	...	New Dawn Kid
Vince Corazza	...	Reverend's Assistant (as Vincent Corazza)
David Eisner	...	Dr. Ben
Gary Hudson	...	Maggie's Date
Samantha O'Dwyer	...	Cody, 3 Years Old
Nicolas Martí Salgado	...	Martin Casillas (as Nicolas Marti Salgado)
Marcia Bennett	...	Head Nurse
Peter Mensah	...	Good Samaritan Janitor
Yan Birch	...	Good Samaritan on Bridge
Alexa Gilmour	...	Good Samaritan on Subway
Wanda-Lee Evans	...	Woman on Bus (as Wanda Lee Evans)
Cedric Smith	...	Pediatric Doctor
Dwayne McLean	...	Homeless Man
Brenda Devine	...	Woman with Sick Daughter
Lauren Spring	...	Daughter
Christopher Redman	...	New Dawn Intern
Jovanni Sy	...	Code Blue Doctor
Trevor Bain	...	Task Force Investigator
Brian Heighton	...	Techie
Christopher Marren	...	Diner State Trooper (as Chris Marren)
Todd Schroeder	...	Diner State Trooper (as Todd William Schroeder)
John Healy	...	Diner Local Policeman
Dylan Harman	...	Boy in Playground
David Sparrow	...	Detective Crawford
Michael Copeman	...	Police Lieutenant
Neil Girvan	...	Detective
Carol Lempert	...	Detective
Kelvin Wheeler	...	Detective
Tony Meyler	...	Detective
Richard Carmichael	...	Task Force Detective
Roman Podhora	...	Desk Sergeant
Dean Gabourie	...	Alley Officer
Arnold Pinnock	...	Alley Officer
Teresa Pavlinek	...	Dentist's Receptionist
Jeffrey Caudle	...	Boy in Dentist's Chair
Catherine Fitch	...	Sister Helena
Neville Edwards	...	Pier Cop
John Shepherd	...	Mr. Czernik
Norma Edwards	...	Mrs. Czernik
Leeza Gibbons	...	Herself
Dan Duran	...	Reporter
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	Reporter
Mia Lee	...	Newscaster
Matt Birman	...	Upstate Cop
Meredith McGeachie	...	Nurse
Henry Alessandroni	...	Hospital Cop
Austin Reed	...	Baby Cody
Corrina Reed	...	Baby Cody
Brianna Reed	...	Baby Cody
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lori Berlanga	...	Nun (uncredited)
Brian Steele	...	Throne Demon (uncredited)
Jennifer Vey	...	Bless Kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Chuck Russell

Writing credits (WGA)
Cathy Cash Spellman		(novel)
Thomas Rickman		(screenplay) (as Tom Rickman) and
Clifford Green		(screenplay) &
Ellen Green		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Davey	....	executive producer
Lis Kern	....	executive producer
Stratton Leopold	....	co-producer
Mace Neufeld	....	producer
Robert Rehme	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Young

Cinematography by
Peter Menzies Jr.

Film Editing by
Alan Heim

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Sarah Finn		(as Sarah Halley Finn)

Production Design by
Carol Spier

Art Direction by
Elinor Rose Galbraith
Miles Teves

Set Decoration by
Peter P. Nicolakakos

Costume Design by
Denise Cronenberg

Makeup Department
Greg Cannom	....	special makeup effects
Brad Hardin	....	makeup effects technician
John Kim	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience Productions
Mary Kim	....	makeup effects crew: Captive Audience Productions Inc.
Louise Mackintosh	....	key makeup effects artist
Louise Mackintosh	....	key special makeup
Mark Nieman	....	special effects makeup lab technician (as Mark Neiman)
Valli O'Reilly	....	makeup artist: Ms. Basinger
Michael Peterson	....	lab makeup effects
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Kim Basinger
Mitchell Stone	....	hair stylist: Ms. Basinger
Keith VanderLaan	....	makeup effects producer: Captive Audience Productions
Brian Wade	....	special makeup effects artist
Adam Brandy	....	additional special makeup effects artist: L.A. pick ups (uncredited)

Production Management
Ray Angelic	....	production manager: New York
Nicholas J. Gray	....	production manager
Stratton Leopold	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ani Baravyan	....	assistant director: second unit
Raymond J. Duff	....	third assistant director: second unit
Myron Hoffert	....	first assistant director: second unit
Gary Hymes	....	second unit director
Jonnie Katz	....	second assistant director: second unit
Michal Page	....	third assistant director
Matthew H. Rowland	....	first assistant director (as Matthew Rowland)
Angela C. Tortu	....	assistant director (as Angela Tortu)
Bob Warwick	....	assistant director (as Robert Warwick)
Kate Weiss	....	assistant director

Art Department
Brom	....	conceptual artist
Janet Cormack	....	scenic artist
Dennis Davenport	....	art director: second unit
Kevin Haeberlin	....	on-set dresser
Peter Hudecki	....	storyboard artist
Elis Lam	....	set designer
Tim Larsen	....	painter
Michael Madden	....	set designer
Aleksandra Marinkovich	....	third assistant art director
Adolfo Martínez Pérez	....	additional concept art
Jae Pak	....	assistant art director
Vince Peets	....	storyboard artist
Arlindo Vicente	....	lead man

Sound Department
Dean Beville	....	sound effects editor
Zack Davis	....	adr supervisor
Donald Flick	....	sound effects editor
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	supervising sound editor
Dean Humphreys	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor
Ryan Juggler	....	assistant sound editor
Owen Langevin	....	production sound mixer
Martin Lopez	....	sound effects editor
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects designer
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects editor
Jon Michaels	....	assistant sound editor
Adam Sawelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Erika Schengili-Roberts	....	boom operator
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Frank Smathers	....	dialogue editor
Beth Sterner	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Tuchrello	....	first assistant sound editor
David Williams	....	dialogue editor
Dan Yale	....	foley editor
Flavio Leocata	....	assistant sound recordist (uncredited)
Randy Wilson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Warren Appleby	....	special effects foreman
Al Arthur	....	effects lead
Mauricio Baiocchi	....	character technical director
Tim Barraball	....	special effects technician
Jon G. Belyeu	....	wire flying coordinator
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects crew
Shea Clayton	....	on set artist
Shea Clayton	....	special effects technician
Brent Hartshorn	....	texture artist
Michael Kavanagh	....	special effects coordinator
Mike Kavanagh	....	special effects technician
Joe Littlejohn	....	character rigging lead
John MacGillivray	....	special effects key
Larry Odien	....	animatronic effects
Devorah Petty	....	texture artist
Dan Piponi	....	research and development
Mark Schreiber	....	character technical director
Brian Sipe	....	makeup and creature effects supervisor
Bryan Smith	....	mold maker
Valek Sykes	....	special effects
Jennifer Teves	....	production supervisor: Cannom Creations
Keith VanderLaan	....	creature effects creator/producer: Captive Audience Productions
Grady Holder	....	lab technician: Captive Audience (uncredited)
Derek Liscoumb	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Jeremy Beadell	....	I/O
George Borshukov	....	research and development
Alan Boucek	....	compositor
Brigitte Bourque	....	digital compositor: Manex Visual Effects
Justin Burdine	....	system administrator
Don Canfield	....	motion control operator
Chad Carlberg	....	digital compositor
David Chisholm	....	visual effects coordinator
David M. Chisholm	....	visual effects coordinator
Kate Choi	....	lighting director
J.D. Cowles	....	compositor
Tiffany Cullum	....	I/O
David 'Grue' Debry	....	effects & lighting technical director
Steve Demers	....	lighting technical director lead
Nika Dunne	....	digital paint & roto artist: Manex
Nousha Emami	....	lighting technical director
Matt Farell	....	animation lead
Matt Farell	....	animation supervisor
Fortunato Frattasio	....	digital artist
Dawn Gates	....	paint & roto artist
Michael Gay	....	3D artist
Dan Glass	....	compositing supervisor
Lesley Headrick	....	character animator
Michael Hemschoot	....	lead animator
Hillary Hoggard	....	paint & roto artist (as Hillary Covey)
Sharon Smith Holley	....	visual effects editor
Chris Hurtt	....	character animator
Joel Hynek	....	visual effects supervisor
Daniel Klem	....	3D artist
D. Flint Klingler	....	compositor
Ryan Laney	....	effects & lighting technical director
Oystein Larsen	....	3D artist
Peter Lepeniotis	....	animator
Gregory D. Liegey	....	compositing supervisor
Gregory D. Liegey	....	visual effects composite supervisor
Daniel J. Lombardo	....	visual effects executive producer
Anthony Mabin	....	visual effects compositor: Manex
Ralph Maiers	....	in house visual effects supervisor: Cinema Research Corp./D-rez
Anthony Mark Viverito	....	visual effects editor: Manex Visual Effects
Ray McMillan	....	motion control/capture supervisor
Amanda Morrison	....	compositor
Jake Morrison	....	compositor
Glenn Neufeld	....	visual effects supervisor
Grant Niesner	....	digital art director
Adrienne Othon	....	effects & lighting technical director
Peter Plevritis	....	digital effects coordinator
Peter Plevritis	....	digital effects supervisor
Ann Podlozny	....	digital effects coordinator
Brion Porter	....	assistant visual effects editor
Thomas Proctor	....	digital compositor
Marc D. Rienzo	....	compositor: Manex VFX
Jarmila Seflova	....	digital artist
Greg Shimp	....	paint & roto lead
Russell L. Smith	....	effects & lighting technical director
Jonathan F. Styrlund	....	visual effects producer: MVFX
Christina Tempelaar-Lietz	....	effects & lighting technical director
John Tissavary	....	visual effects
Ryan 'RT' Todd	....	compositor
Si Duy Tran	....	character animator
Jason Wardle	....	CG technical director: Manex Visual Effects
Tamara Watts Kent	....	visual effects producer
Sean White	....	CG artist
Travis Baumann	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Christopher Grandel	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Katie Hecker	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Karen Jine	....	visual effects production coordinator (uncredited)
Glenn Neufeld	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
Thanh Nguyen	....	modeler (uncredited)
Eric Pham	....	digital compositor: Cinema Research Corp./D-rez (uncredited)
Deborah Thomas	....	digital rotoscoping: Manex (uncredited)

Stunts
Dan Belley	....	stunts (as Danny Belley)
Marco Bianco	....	stunt rigger
Matt Birman	....	stunt coordinator
Eric Bryson	....	stunts
Shane Cardwell	....	stunts
Debbie Lee Carrington	....	stunts (as Deborah Lee Carrington)
Tom Farr	....	stunts
Henry Finch	....	stunts
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
Kym Kristalie	....	stunts
Danny Lima	....	stunts
Steve Lucescu	....	stunt rigger
Patrick Mark	....	stunts
Cotton Mather	....	stunts
Duncan McLeod	....	stunt performer
Jessica Meyer	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunts
Robert Racki	....	stunts
Alison Reid	....	stunts
Kevin Rushton	....	stunts
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunts
John Stoneham Sr.	....	stunts
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts (as Brian Thomas)
Tye Tyukodi	....	stunts (as Anton Tyukodi)
Ron Van Hart	....	stunts
Jennifer Vey	....	stunts
Len Wagner	....	stunts
Joe Zimmerman	....	stunts (as Joe Z. Zimmerman)
Mic Jones	....	fire stunt rigger (uncredited)
Tracy Keehn-Dashnaw	....	stunt double: Kim Basinger (uncredited)
Joe Zimmerman	....	stunt double: Travis (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Rod Benjamin	....	key grip
Nicole Blanchard	....	second assistant camera: second unit
David Breeze	....	gaffer
Brendan Bresnahan	....	key video assist operator
Rocky Brown	....	crane grip
Alejandro J. Castillo	....	lighting technician: green screen unit
Federico De Marco	....	camera trainee
David Emmerichs	....	Steadicam operator
David Emmerichs	....	camera operator
Sean P. Fickert	....	best boy grip: re-shoots
Michael Flood	....	gaffer: second unit
Greg Grainger	....	grip
Tony Guerin	....	camera operator
Mark W. Hindle	....	video playback operator
Sacha Hindle	....	video assistant
Patrick King	....	dolly grip: second unit
Steve Kolodziej	....	video playback operator
Lux	....	lighting technician
Jim MacCammon	....	gaffer: second unit
Marty Miller	....	best boy grip
Matthew Pill	....	key rigging grip
Derick V. Underschultz	....	director of photography: second unit
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera
Robert Vigus	....	best boy grip
Greg Whiteside	....	24 frame video operator
Nicole Wiwchar	....	assistant camera
A. David Burleigh	....	video playback assistant (uncredited)

Animation Department
Andrew Schneider	....	animator

Casting Department
Robin D. Cook	....	casting: Canada
Barbara Fiorentino	....	casting associate
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Rebecca Mangieri	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natalie Bronfman	....	costume assistant
Christina Cattle	....	costumer
Brenda Gilles	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Robert Brakey	....	first assistant editor
Marisa Morabito	....	apprentice editor
David Tarnawsky	....	first assistant editor: Canada
Don Thompson	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Lars Anderson	....	orchestrator
Pete Anthony	....	orchestrator
Bruce Babcock	....	orchestrator
John Bell	....	orchestrator
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
Andy Brown	....	music contractor
Konstantinos Christides	....	orchestrator
Konstantinos Christides	....	score coordinator
Robert Fernandez	....	score mixer
Tanya Noel Hill	....	music editor
Lisa Jaime	....	music editor: temp music
Erik Jordan	....	assistant scoring engineer
Adam Kay	....	music editor: temp music
Jon Kull	....	orchestrator
The London Metropolitan Orchestra	....	music performed by
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor: temp music
Flavio Motalla	....	score producer
Jasper Randall	....	scoring coordinator
David Reynolds	....	score coordinator
Graham Walker	....	score music production supervisor
Gernot Wolfgang	....	scoring assistant

Other crew
Michelle Bellerose	....	assistant production coordinator
Lori Berlanga	....	assistant: Stratton Leopold
Kenneth Burgomaster	....	synthesizer programmer
Jamie Daddio	....	assistant accountant
Jill Fischer	....	production coordinator: Captive Audience Productions
Mary Fraser	....	production coordinator
Katy Genovese	....	accountant
Miguel Govea	....	publicity consultant
Pamela Hackwell	....	contact lens technician
Glen Hanz	....	sculptor: Captive Audience Productions
Will Hoddinott	....	location manager
Steve Holt	....	on-set medic
Elizabeth Ingram	....	assistant: mr. neufeld
Randy Kennedy	....	assistant location manager: scout
Janek Lowe	....	assistant: Mace Neufeld
Harvey Lowry	....	operations manager: Captive Audience Productions Inc.
Mark McFadden	....	assistant location manager
Brett Miller	....	production assistant
Don Miller	....	production accountant
Irina Naydichev	....	payroll accountant
Anne Paynter	....	production coordinator
Karen Pidgurski	....	unit publicist
Anna Rane	....	script supervisor
Sharon Seto	....	epk director
Linda Stelling	....	medic
Chris Storey	....	assistant location manager: scout
Gene Strange	....	first assistant accountant
Miles Teves	....	conceptual design
Miles Teves	....	key sculptor: Captive Audience Productions
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot
Jamie Wilson	....	assistant location manager
Gerard K. Marino	....	synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
Daniel Villagomez	....	credits administrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• BTC Productions KG
• Icon Entertainment International
• Munich Film Partners & Company (MFP) BTC Productions
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (2001) (Finland) (VHS)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Advanced (????) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (????) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Independent Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (????) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Miramax International (????) (Venezuela) (theatrical)
• SND (????) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Icon Entertainment International
• New Films International
• Universal Pictures Video (2001) (Netherlands) (video)

Special Effects

• Keith Vanderlaan's Captive Audience Productions (makeup and creature effects)
• Manex Visual Effects (MVFX) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• GNP Crescendo Records  soundtrack published by
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio

Also Known As:

Die Prophezeiung (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, drug content and brief language.

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Chile:14 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Mexico:C | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #37491) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Burlington, Ontario, Canada

Company:

BTC Productions KG

Trivia:

When the candles in the cathedral ignite together, the camera pulls back and Maggie's shirt can be seen blowing, as if the candles were in fact being blown out, and film was run backwards.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the candles in the cathedral spontaneously ignite, the puddle of wax at the base of the wick shows that each candle has been burning for longer than they appear to have been burning on screen.

Quotes:

Bugatti: Can I ask you a personal question?
John Travis: That depends on the question.
Bugatti: There's a rumor that before you joined the precinct you were a priest.
John Travis: I was a seminary student, I didn't make it as far as priesthood.
Bugatti: Still, that is some kind of makeover. What happened?
John Travis: I found another way to fight him... Okay, ready?
Bugatti: (confused) Fight who?

Movie Connections:

References The Lion King (1994)

Messy.

What a horrible mess! How Messrs Basinger, Smits, Sewell, Ricci and Holm ended up in this half-assed excuse for a film I'm not sure, but even my profound Ricci bias cannot save my opinion of this film. Actually, I'm not being fair – the film has good things about it. So, on balance: plot – vaguely interesting Omen rip-off with a twist; cast – oddly high profile, with only Basinger seeming miscast (she's too wholesome for the part, and just didn't convince at all) and everyone dealing admirably with the clunky dialogue; effects – hmmm, file under "really-not-very-special"; direction – hmmm, file under "hey, turns out those effects were tremendous compared to the direction!" That was the real issue – lame direction. There were lots of positive elements (a semi-gruesome Se7en-esque thriller angle, the aforementioned Omen riff, Christina Ricci) but, instead of mixing and presenting these ingredients to leave us with a tasty pie, we were left with a motley collection of ingredients that didn't hang at all. Amusingly, Rufus Sewell comments on the DVD interviews that he likes this kind of film when it is done well – better luck next time, Rufus!