The Prodigy opens in Ohio, with the discovery of a serial killer in the woods. His next intended victim is able to escape, police are alerted and the psycho is killed. As serial killers have a pattern, this one collects a severed hand from all his victims, this one included.
Flash to Pennsylvania, where Sarah is giving birth to her first child. These two events, though hundreds of miles apart, happen within minutes of each other. Sarah and hubby John have the perfect life, a new baby, a puppy and a beautiful home on a cul-de-sac. And guess what, seems baby Miles, who utters his first words at six months is a smartie pants (his pediatrician’s terminology not mine).
By age five, it’s official Miles, is testing over the genius charts and is recommended to a “special school”. Flash to Miles at age eight who is attending the “genius school” but isn’t doing well socially. When Miles is not allowed to switch lab partners, he gets a giant plumbers wrench from the custodial closet and beats on the kid who won’t switch partners. Now it’s time for a one on one with the school psychologist.
Soon strange things start to happen at home, let’s just say they might have a hard time finding a new babysitter. Miles is speaking a rare dialect of Hungarian in his sleep (not nice words) and
surprise the dog is missing. The school psychologist has the Hungarian conversation translated (Mom was quick enough to tape it) and brings in reinforcements via a specialist in reincarnation.
Mom of course doesn’t believe a word of it, yes there is something wrong with Miles, but reincarnation- - crazy talk.
Sarah, crazy crap happens even on a cul-de-sac, and your family protector dog can’t help you. Because the dog is “missing”, what could of happened to the dog. Miles, do you know what happened to the dog? There are certainly flaws in this movie, but overall better than the mediocre
offerings of late.
Jackson Scott, as Miles, is fabulous switching between Miles and his “Hungarian guest” flawlessly. He keeps you guessing thru out. Taylor Schilling as Sarah, decent performance but the writing fails her at the end. The last twenty minutes or so are it’s weakest, don’t think too hard because it
doesn’t make sense.
All in all I enjoyed this movie. As is the norm with this genre, we won’t be surprised when a sequel is offered in a few years. The Prodigy is rated C plus, and plays well on the big screen. Definitely worth a matinee ticket price, not sure about full price.
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