Godsend (2004)

After all these years i can still put this flick on and get a good couple of frights, also finding it intriguing to follow the backbone of the story and twist, especially towards the second half it really gets my attention. Only wishing there was more reality put into this film, and maybe it struggles between that and the thriller aspects. I can understand the lower views that have been given by other reviewers but this one is still a winner for me. I must still try to have a look at the alternate endings as the end really bothers me in the theatrical version. However, it brings a thrill with a good story idea and a twist, its not a bad movie for a Sunday afternoon.

Such a horrific waste of good talent!! The acting was really great from all of them, but it wasn't enough to make this movie into anything of quality or interest. (I truly think Mr. DeNiro needs to sit down to have a SERIOUS talk with the Director and Writer! I'm betting he already has, since this was made back in 2004!) I don't have much good to say about this other then the great acting, and since I was quite open and strong with my review on 'The Ballad of Jack and Rose', I'll just quit here. The acting in that movie wasn't as good as it was in this, so I'll spare it for this review due to that!This is another 'don't waste your time' movie, but if you insist, like I suggested in the other review, be sure to have plenty of tasks at hand to do while watching - that way it won't be a complete loss of your precious time!

After he gets a new pair of sneakers, older-looking eight-year-old Cameron Bright (as Adam Duncan) gets hit, and killed, by a car. His devastated parents, teacher Greg Kinnear (as Paul) and photographer Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (as Jessie), receive an invitation to clone young Mr. Bright, from doctor Robert De Niro (as Richard Wells). Ms. Romijn-Stamos was once Mr. De Niro's undergraduate student. Since the cloning procedure is illegal, Mr. De Niro requests the family relocate to "Riverton"; thus, friends and neighbors won't see the duplicate Bright growing up all over again.Suddenly, it's eight years later… Sporting a different hairstyle, Romijn-Stamos has one very sexy underwear scene. But, more important to the storyline, cloned son "Adam" begins to act creepy. He gets into trouble with peers at school, and spits in the teacher's face. "Godsend" De Niro and the DVD sleeve help explain the problem: "Reaching the age at which the original Adam died, the new Adam begins to change, and a new sinister personality emerges." It's all unoriginal and nonsensical. But, director Nick Hamm, the sets, locations, and Mr. Kinnear's lead performance are good.***** Godsend (4/30/04) Nick Hamm ~ Greg Kinnear, Cameron Bright, Rebecca Romijn, Robert De Niro

My Take: Boring rehash that wastes its cast and its audience as well. From a title like "Godsend" or "The Omen" or "The Exorcist", one can't have an idea that the film being presented is a religion-based horror flick. Sadly I say, this isn't. "Godsend" is a science-fiction story about resurrection. The film opens with the birthday celebration of young Adam (Cameron Bright), the son of couple Paul (Greg Kinnear)and Jessie (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos) Duncan. The film continues a few days later when Adam becomes victim of a car accident. While Paul and Jessie grieve the death of their son, scientist Richard Wells (Robert DeNiro) approaches them with a message of hope, their son can be brought back to life. After a couple of experiments, they have brought Adam back to life. Pretty soon, this 'new' Adam begins to have nightmares, terrifying revelations of a boy named Zachary (who looks like him) and a burning school. Of course, these are just nightmares, or a trick of the imagination, but can it be real? Oooohhh... The better question is can director Nick Hamm overcome the growing tedium of the script? How many more plot twists and revelations are they gonna keep throwing at us before we all say in unison that we don't get it? Can Robert DeNiro salvage his career in such a career-derailing role? Do I have to tell you where all this is going? Rating: 0 out of 5.