The Prodigy (2019)

Directed by Nicholas McCarthy. Starring Taylor Schilling, Jackson Robert Scott, Peter Mooney, Colm Feore, Paula Boudreau, Brittany Allen, Elisa Moolecherry, Paul Fauteux. [R]

When Schilling’s young son (Scott) exhibits more and more disturbing behavior, the mother looks for answers to what’s causing it; is the kid just a bad seed in need of intensive counseling or is there some sort of supernatural force at work? Better-than-expected but curiously-titled horror film (the fact that the kid shows an aptitude for learning and cognitive development barely factors into the premise and is all but ignored after that); it strains credibility and often defies its own twisted logic—especially upon reflection after the credits roll—but still provides a few effective chills and jump scares, along with a legitimately creepy, monstrous moppet. Slick direction, pacing, and accumulation of tension are above-average for its somewhat disreputable sub-genre; goes further into “shocking” territory than most other killer-kid flicks, but not far enough to make it truly memorable.

62/100