Taylor Schilling (Orange Is The New Black) and Jackson Robert Scott (IT) star in this tense physiological thriller from Netflix. This story starts with a mother giving birth, the first-time parents are delighted with their seemingly perfect son. At an early age, the boy displays exceptional intelligence and is sent to a school for gifted children. Soon it becomes clear that their son is not only super-intelligent but also super creepy.
Jackson Robert Scott plays the disturbed son (Miles) perfectly. The young actor is best known for his work on the Stephen King Horror film IT and his performance in this movie is terrific too. I haven't disliked a child this much since watching King Joffery in Game Of Thrones. Taylor Schilling and Peter Mooney do a good job portraying the concerned parents, and a special mention goes to Colm Feore who plays the psychologist (Arthur Jacobson) drafted in to help unlock the secrets in Miles' mind.
‘The Prodigy' contains elements of many horror films, at times it feels like ‘The Exorcist' or ‘The Sixth Sense'. Nevertheless, this movie is not up to the standard of those masterpieces. That's not to say this film isn't enjoyable. As the story unfolds, the tension builds; the main actors move the story along with skill. Although, it's difficult to shake the feeling that you've seen this all before. Despite that, the movie will make you jump and give you chills. While this is no slasher horror flick, it does contain a few unsettling scenes. The film is rated 15; personally, I think it's graphic for that age group. Parents of teens might want to review the movie before letting older kids watch it.
It's safe to say that this supernatural thriller will not redefine the genre. Yet, it still delivers a decent sense of chill, albeit a mostly predictable one. The acting and the ending of The Prodigy raise it above the average level of a typical horror movie – but only just. If you're looking for more scares then why not try ‘The Girl With All The Gifts' or the shockingly intense psychological thriller ‘Split‘ starring James McAvoy.
