A woman's mother makes a deal with the devil to save the daughter from dying. 20 years later the devil returns to claim retribution. Sounds compelling but in reality, this is a dull, listless show with little originality. Kim Delaney adds some semblance of good acting but what grates me is that the plot is a pure rip-off from previous movies. Thomas Gibson is too straight faced and nice looking to be evil. The Devil's Child lacks any new ideas and whichever way the story moves, you know you've seen it before. The finale is as close to any mediocre B-grade horror movie you can find.
11 Reviews
Unbelievable supernatural (moralistic?) movie
Mike-DD25 August 2000
Though this is a supernatural film, it is still unbelievable in some sense. Seeing that the Devil has powers all that live on earth (in this movie), why can't he simply appear when Kim is about to leave with the child, but instead allows her to take him away for good? Couldn't he make her fall along the way and then just pick the baby up? Or send someone to shoot her and then pick up the baby? Since he can command a girl to kill Lilliard's character, this shows he has powers over the mind, so why didn't he?
Another grouse I have is that why does every supernatural movie with Christian overtones always involve the Catholic church? Don't the denominations believe in the soul and the devil as well? It get boring after a while when you forever see the Catholic church as either the Saviour of the world or the Scourge of the world.
Anyway, the moral of this story is: don't promise what you later would regret.
Another grouse I have is that why does every supernatural movie with Christian overtones always involve the Catholic church? Don't the denominations believe in the soul and the devil as well? It get boring after a while when you forever see the Catholic church as either the Saviour of the world or the Scourge of the world.
Anyway, the moral of this story is: don't promise what you later would regret.
Dull, cliched, unbelievable, slow.
ivinian10 June 2002
I watched this more out of morbid curiosity than from any real desire to see what happened next. Every cliche in the book is here, plus red herrings that have absolutely nothing to do with the plot that seem to be pursued way too far.
I loved their casting of Alex, though. He's a total dreamboat -- powerfully magnetic, sensual, articulate, and just wicked enough to hold the attention. Stole every scene he was in, which wasn't too hard considering nobody else was even vaguely sympathetic. It's too bad the heroine wasn't more sympathetic.. it was hard to care about her at all (or see why anybody else cared about her), she was so rude, self-obsessed, almost abusive, and brittle.
I also really disliked the directing -- every trick in the book is employed, or rather overemployed, such as ominous music, sudden noises, and excessive foreshadowing. Basically, this was just a very non-thrilling thriller that said nothing new at all.
I loved their casting of Alex, though. He's a total dreamboat -- powerfully magnetic, sensual, articulate, and just wicked enough to hold the attention. Stole every scene he was in, which wasn't too hard considering nobody else was even vaguely sympathetic. It's too bad the heroine wasn't more sympathetic.. it was hard to care about her at all (or see why anybody else cared about her), she was so rude, self-obsessed, almost abusive, and brittle.
I also really disliked the directing -- every trick in the book is employed, or rather overemployed, such as ominous music, sudden noises, and excessive foreshadowing. Basically, this was just a very non-thrilling thriller that said nothing new at all.
Total Waste...
Trampyre29 April 2006
This "movie" is a pretty pathetic waste of time. Outside of a chilling (but predictable) performance by Thomas Gibson as The Devil, this movie really stinks. All the major horror clichés are stolen from ROSEMARY'S BABY and THE OMEN- there is NOTHING the viewer won't see coming as any sort of shock or surprise. Good performers like Matthew Lillard and Kim Delaney don't add anything. For a supernatural tale, there's really nothing in the way of special effects. The script is terrible, and the direction barely adequate. It blows me away that anyone connected with this film would waste time and money to create this piece of trash, even for something concocted for TV.
great movie
lsettimo20 February 2003
I just see this movie and I think it is not bad at all... It has a strong christian message that I have never seen in other horror movies. It has a clear message, the "devil" is always around us but with the prayer you can fight the evil. The victory of the good (over the evil), comes from God. There was one moment, almost in the end of the movie in which I was expecting that the mother of the child would have kill the son, but in the end, she went to batist the child, symbol that she belive in the love of God (the batism wins the sin). The devil in conclusion is always there, and the only way to fight is by beliving in God. Doesn´t sound like horror movie... nice!
Hush little baby
. Don't talk at all!
Coventry12 January 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Did I just watch a late 90's, made-for-TV thriller starring Kim Delaney? Boy, I must either be really bored or completely out of other material to watch because it's generally known that Miss Delaney has yet to deliver a decent film. To refer to this "Devil's Child" as being just mediocre would be a huge understatement, as this is a totally unoriginal and amateurish attempt to tell a religious horror story in the tradition of "Rosemary's Baby" or "The Omen". Delaney stars as a 30-something and single photographer. At age 10, she survived a deadly fall of a rooftop thanks to her mother, who made a pact with Satan himself (apparently, the Dark Prince didn't have anything better to do then to stroll around in hospitals) and, to return the favor, Nikki, after a life of infertility, will give birth to the Antichrist! And indeed, shortly after moving to a new apartment with a dubious reputation, Nikki meets a handsome and seemly sophisticated man who quickly turns out to be the devil in disguise. The plot is full of stupid little holes and it's particularly funny how Nikki "coincidentally" gets into contact with Alex (the devil). First she inherits a large sum of money, which allows her to move to the apartment complex where He and his accomplices live, then a poor dog has to die and then finally, she has to be rescued from a running wild car old-timer! The total lack of blood, sleaze and gruesome make-up effects is acceptable, since it's a made-for-TV horror film, but what about that totally ridiculous and pathetic ending?!? Dig this: (HUGE SPOILER!!!) They're about to baptize his son, the newly born Antichrist for Pete's sake, and all the Prince of Darkness does to prevent this from happening is produce a little bit of wind???? And then when Nikki walks out of the church with her baby, He just stands there and WALKS away?! He WALKS AWAY, like a little boy that didn't get what he wanted! They call that an ending? Delaney's performance is quite bad, but Oscar material compared with the work of her supportive colleagues, including Matthew Lillard; who would reach somewhat of a star-status later with the utterly retarded "Scooby-Doo" movies. There is ONE remotely interesting sequence in this film, though, and that's inside the auditorium where Mr. Satan gives a lecture about good and evil.
90 minute long over christianized sermon.
FiendishDramaturgy20 January 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I'll never understand, what with the literal thousands of other types of beings/creatures of shadow/darkness, film producers and screenwriters always lean on the old crutch of Christianity when conjuring their creations into being.
This movie was a ninety-minute (or there abouts) sermon; nothing more.
Sorry guys, but if I wanted to be repeatedly hit over the head by dogmatic Christianity, I would let the fundys in when they knock on my door.
If you're into that kind of masochism though, then this is definitely your movie.
Almost killed as a child, Nicky's mother promises her daughter's soul to the Devil to keep her from dying, thereby sealing her fate. Or did she? I don't know. This movie can't seem to decide.
This is a movie of the Christian heresy of Satanism and is therefore, not my cup of tea, but it seems as if it can not make up its mind. I think perhaps the director suffers from ADHD, or some such malady, as he wants to do a Satanic movie, but then again, Satan does not have the power to do anything...?...I don't know. This is basically just a convoluted mess centered around dogmatic Christian belief and peppered throughout with Catholic doctrines, used here and there whenever convenient, but otherwise ignored.
A complete waste of film, if you ask me.
It rates a 3.2/10 from...
the Fiend :.
This movie was a ninety-minute (or there abouts) sermon; nothing more.
Sorry guys, but if I wanted to be repeatedly hit over the head by dogmatic Christianity, I would let the fundys in when they knock on my door.
If you're into that kind of masochism though, then this is definitely your movie.
Almost killed as a child, Nicky's mother promises her daughter's soul to the Devil to keep her from dying, thereby sealing her fate. Or did she? I don't know. This movie can't seem to decide.
This is a movie of the Christian heresy of Satanism and is therefore, not my cup of tea, but it seems as if it can not make up its mind. I think perhaps the director suffers from ADHD, or some such malady, as he wants to do a Satanic movie, but then again, Satan does not have the power to do anything...?...I don't know. This is basically just a convoluted mess centered around dogmatic Christian belief and peppered throughout with Catholic doctrines, used here and there whenever convenient, but otherwise ignored.
A complete waste of film, if you ask me.
It rates a 3.2/10 from...
the Fiend :.
Rosemary's Baby Meets Damien
DBlackthorne19 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
A deal is made with The Devil by a girl's mother in which her life is spared from death by a fall. Years later, the girl, now a woman, Nikki DeMarco {Kim Delaney} moves into the big city and is greeted by a mysterious and suave stranger named "Alexander Rotha" {Thomas Gibson, who you may recognize as "Greg" from the "Dharma & Greg" series}, in a swank apartment complex, with whom she is immediately smitten. They indulge in the Satantric Sacrament, and she becomes pregnant, which is a diabolical miracle in itself, considering her childhood accident, as explained by a Doctor during a checkup. In one scene, she actually seeks to have an abortion, but the clinic explodes in flames before she can harm a hair on the infernal progeny.
One day, Nikki is taken aback due to attending one his ethics classes {he is a Professor at a local college} with the subject of "good and evil", wherein he fulfills his role as accuser, exposing the hypocrisy of a self-righteous 'slut', sending her weeping out the door. Knowing that she his carrying his child, he understandably seeks to remain in contact with Nikki, but she becomes increasingly frightened and runs from him. Bit by bit, she starts asking questions and becomes aware of his nefarious identity, going forth to protect herself while seeking blindlight assistance from a paranoid priest {Father Dominico - a temporary obstacle}, who eventually falls to his own death within the church wherein he was just praying.
A seductive emissary of The Prince of Darkness enters the scene to be rid of a nosy ex-boyfriend named "Tim" {Matthew Lillard}, via lethal fetish-play.
A-la Rosemary's Baby, the entire society of people she associated with are all in league with Lucifer, including the Psychologist, and even her best friend.
At one point, she develops a photo of Alexander revealing the dreaded Damianesque '666' on his forehead {they could have used a better effect for this, or at least a better font! At least Damien's appeared like a convincing scar}. Despite her efforts, she gives birth to Satan's son, which is attended by Rotha stealthily and gracefully moving about the hospital in a black cloak.
Eventually, she kidnaps the child and runs into a church where she admonishes a priest to perform an on-the-spot baptism, with Rotha appearing outside. Chaotic winds increase, eventually subsiding as the last words of the litany are read. He departs, but will no doubt take his due when the time is right. I muse that one day the child will realize He is a Satanist, and gravitate towards 'The Dark Side' upon reaching adolescence.
In My estimation, The Devil's Child is a combination of Rosemary's Baby and The Omen. What I particularly enjoyed about this film, is that for the first 90 minutes or so, the plot is very subtle with an air of believability instead of overt displays of exaggerated theatrics {which is quite enjoyable otherwise, but it just 'worked' for this presentation}, then eventually maximizes towards the climactic finale.
One day, Nikki is taken aback due to attending one his ethics classes {he is a Professor at a local college} with the subject of "good and evil", wherein he fulfills his role as accuser, exposing the hypocrisy of a self-righteous 'slut', sending her weeping out the door. Knowing that she his carrying his child, he understandably seeks to remain in contact with Nikki, but she becomes increasingly frightened and runs from him. Bit by bit, she starts asking questions and becomes aware of his nefarious identity, going forth to protect herself while seeking blindlight assistance from a paranoid priest {Father Dominico - a temporary obstacle}, who eventually falls to his own death within the church wherein he was just praying.
A seductive emissary of The Prince of Darkness enters the scene to be rid of a nosy ex-boyfriend named "Tim" {Matthew Lillard}, via lethal fetish-play.
A-la Rosemary's Baby, the entire society of people she associated with are all in league with Lucifer, including the Psychologist, and even her best friend.
At one point, she develops a photo of Alexander revealing the dreaded Damianesque '666' on his forehead {they could have used a better effect for this, or at least a better font! At least Damien's appeared like a convincing scar}. Despite her efforts, she gives birth to Satan's son, which is attended by Rotha stealthily and gracefully moving about the hospital in a black cloak.
Eventually, she kidnaps the child and runs into a church where she admonishes a priest to perform an on-the-spot baptism, with Rotha appearing outside. Chaotic winds increase, eventually subsiding as the last words of the litany are read. He departs, but will no doubt take his due when the time is right. I muse that one day the child will realize He is a Satanist, and gravitate towards 'The Dark Side' upon reaching adolescence.
In My estimation, The Devil's Child is a combination of Rosemary's Baby and The Omen. What I particularly enjoyed about this film, is that for the first 90 minutes or so, the plot is very subtle with an air of believability instead of overt displays of exaggerated theatrics {which is quite enjoyable otherwise, but it just 'worked' for this presentation}, then eventually maximizes towards the climactic finale.
Powerless ! (DVD)
leplatypus31 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
I like this kind of movie featuring the Devil because it's the most powerful adversary of all time and it's real (at last for the faithful). In comparison, Darth Vader, Terminator, and Alien are choir children. Thus, if it has you in its papers, you are really in big troubles.
Here's it aims for Kim Delaney and the choice is relevant: As she proved in "NYPB Blues", Kim is a strong, resourceful woman and doesn't quit easily. It was also cool that she was teamed with decent partners: the future Sammy and the always mentally disturbed mother, Grace Zabriskie.
I appreciate that the devil didn't do the show with spectacular things but is portrayed in a charming bachelor. Unfortunately, the sound was horrible and I couldn't clearly hear the dialogs to understand what precisely was going on, especially why he wanted a child from Kim.
However, the big failure of this movie is that it isn't frightening. The signs Kim witnessed are troubling but they don't install fear. And the final with the hooded devil and a simple exorcism destructs all that was built from the beginning. It's a pity.
Here's it aims for Kim Delaney and the choice is relevant: As she proved in "NYPB Blues", Kim is a strong, resourceful woman and doesn't quit easily. It was also cool that she was teamed with decent partners: the future Sammy and the always mentally disturbed mother, Grace Zabriskie.
I appreciate that the devil didn't do the show with spectacular things but is portrayed in a charming bachelor. Unfortunately, the sound was horrible and I couldn't clearly hear the dialogs to understand what precisely was going on, especially why he wanted a child from Kim.
However, the big failure of this movie is that it isn't frightening. The signs Kim witnessed are troubling but they don't install fear. And the final with the hooded devil and a simple exorcism destructs all that was built from the beginning. It's a pity.
Kim Delaney discovers the supernatural
Petunia-27 September 1999
Another example of Kim Delaney making a poor script believable. More Catholic bashing and supernatural happenings. Unfortunately, the producers decided to kill off Larry Holden early...an interesting character actor who could have added life to this otherwise dull film. At least Kim has a recurring television role to sustain her. Sigh.
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