Blessed (2004)
By: Michael
Helms on March 9, 2005.
Share
 0 Comments |
 |
| MRA (Australia). Region 4, PAL. 1.85:1 (16:9 enhanced). English DD 5.1, English DD 2.0. 84 minutes |
| The Movie |
| Cover Art |
 |
| Credits |
Director: Simon Fellows
Starring:Heather Graham,
James Purefoy, David Hemmings, Stella Stevens,
Andy Serkis, William Hootkins
Screenplay:Jason Rothwell
Music: Barry Taylor
Tagline: Fear The
Unborn
Country: UK/Romania |
Not too long ago a reviewer on this site wished
for a decent cloning flick while lamenting the
existence of Godsend. Blessed mightn't be that movie but it's a whole let less
Godawful than Godsend.
After a dynamic opening involving a very pregnant
woman leaping from the top of a very tall city
building Heather Graham wakes from the nightmare
to appear as Samantha, partner of Craig (James
Purefoy), anxious potential parents who are making
all the right moves with little success. Craig
has just been sacked but as a writer has had his
first novel picked up by an agent. Simultaneously
the couple are recommended to a fertility clinic
in the country. Sam has her eggs removed and is
impregnanted in the high-tech clinic which also
requires them to relocate to the strange new community.
A pregnant woman is seen arguing when a man in
a hood approaches and pulls an automatic weapon
on her. The people next door go missing. Sam's
Doctor calls to let her know she's pregnant. He
also relates the news to a gruff voice the owner
of which turns out to be David Hemmings (in his
last role) as Earl Sydney, publishing magnate
and all round mysterious figure who Craig meets
at a party. Sam's next check up reveals she's
having twins. Craig and his agent meet with Earl
who offers an incredible deal. Craig and Sam move
into a house by the lake. The agent does some
research into Earl that connects him to the cloning
industry. A personal visit involves her being
poisoned by Earl's tea. At a check up a very pregnant
Sam is scratched from the inside. Andy Serkis
as an obsessed Italian priest turns up and keeps
bumping into Sam. Sam learns about the cloning
clinic and attempts to warn Craig who doesn't
want to know. Serkis turns up at Sam's one night
raving about an ancient prophecy. Sam has to glass
him but he sets fire to the house and then drives
a car into the clinic before setting it on fire.
Sam saves herself by jumping in a bath and is
soon on the way to hospital having her babies
in the back of an ambulance with excellent childbirth
sound effects. Four years later at a children's
party a young boy dressed as the devil is seen
to be playing up when he suddenly keels over as
his face decays. Sams two girls look on knowingly
confirming the ranting of Andy Serkis that Sam
has been impreganted by the Devil. |
| Video |
| Very sharp transfer of a film that's slick to
the point of being glossy throughout even during
the darkest night sequences. |
| Audio |
| A choice of stereo or a 5.1 surround mix demonstrate
the excellent use of sound effects as noted above
and during scenes of destruction. |
| Extra Features |
| Talent profiles (ie. selective credit listings)
for Heather Graham and James Purefoy but they miss
the chance to document the illustrious career of
David Hemmings despite dedicating the film to him. |
| The Verdict |
| High end TV standard production from producer
Andrew Stevens (who manages to fit his ex-Playboy
centrefold mum Stella into the cast) that's as slick
as any of the erotic thrillers he's made a living
from in the past decade and a half. Unfortunately
they down play the horror elements. Filmed in Romania,
at times the film strives to create an atmosphere
of unease then blows it like the slick that can't
even get the name of the main male lead right. Still
interesting and enjoyable, just not any sort of
urgent viewing. |
|
| User Comments |
 |
0 user comments have been posted so far |
|
| |
 |
