The Prodigy

There are a couple moments when it works... [but] I would say go back and watch The Omen or The Bad Seed [instead].

Not even an amiable central performance from Taylor Schilling...and some early atmospheric mood-setting can save this "demon child" knock-off from its ineptitude.

It's an unscary scary movie that quickly abandons the very thing that might have made it interesting...

The emotion wasn't quite as earned as it should've been...but, for the majority of the run-time, I was impressed with the craftsmanship on display.

McCarthy's film dips its toes into some stock scare tactics - the whistling tea kettle, the dark hallway, the creepy basement - while struggling to figure out whether it wants its third act to be a boring or bad-ass sort of bonkers-bananas.

McCarthy's direction is so sleepy that a number of key scenes fizzle out before they can pay off with the next big jump scare.

I recommend it to fans of the genre who are just looking for something new to watch, but it’s nothing super special or memorable.

It’s a competent watch, but don’t expect to remember it by the time you get to your car.

Patience is rewarded time and time again by genuinely scary scenes.

The Prodigy tips its hand early, but that's okay.