My lord, director Marina Sargenti's religious themed made-for-TV horror "CHILD OF DARKNESS, CHILD OF LIGHT" (adapted from James Patterson's novel "VIRGIN") can be a real test of patience. This is indeed no "MIRROR MIRROR" (1990). After a crazy opening where two black clad motorcyclists terrorize a priest as he drives his car... I thought this could be entertaining and maybe even suspenseful. But that's where it kind of stops. From then on it's mainly back-and-forth low-key biblical discussions, as the Vatican sends a priest (Tony Denison) to investigate into the truth of the unusual pregnancies involving two fifteen year old (still) virgin girls in two separate locations; Pennsylvania and Boston. They believe this could be the birth of the angel of light and the antichrist.
The story spends more time with the priest trying to be the best friend of the girls, as the mysteries and miracles play second fiddle in an unbelievable chain of events. Clichéd occurrences are sprinkled throughout the strained, tensionless material. You get unnerving visions, strange manifestations, apocalyptic events, black crows, evil force distorting the weak to create havoc, mysterious man in black, aggressive pets, freak accidents and mysterious deaths. When this is not happening, which is most the time we get theological debates and lyrical dialogues amidst a quiet temperament. Everything about it is leadenly methodical and sleepily acted. There are surprisingly some familiar faces in the cast; Brad Davis, Sela Ward, Kristin Dattilo, Sydney Penny, Paxton Whitehead and Josh Lucas make appearances. At times the interest seems to fall upon who you can spot. Nonetheless there's no question it's outlandish, but it's boringly presented. Even its predictable twist. At least it ends how it started. The pointless tacked-on final forty-second stare off between good and evil is stupidly lame and fairly baffling to what had gone on before it. But hey, I'm a sucker for red eyes and glowing auras.
The story spends more time with the priest trying to be the best friend of the girls, as the mysteries and miracles play second fiddle in an unbelievable chain of events. Clichéd occurrences are sprinkled throughout the strained, tensionless material. You get unnerving visions, strange manifestations, apocalyptic events, black crows, evil force distorting the weak to create havoc, mysterious man in black, aggressive pets, freak accidents and mysterious deaths. When this is not happening, which is most the time we get theological debates and lyrical dialogues amidst a quiet temperament. Everything about it is leadenly methodical and sleepily acted. There are surprisingly some familiar faces in the cast; Brad Davis, Sela Ward, Kristin Dattilo, Sydney Penny, Paxton Whitehead and Josh Lucas make appearances. At times the interest seems to fall upon who you can spot. Nonetheless there's no question it's outlandish, but it's boringly presented. Even its predictable twist. At least it ends how it started. The pointless tacked-on final forty-second stare off between good and evil is stupidly lame and fairly baffling to what had gone on before it. But hey, I'm a sucker for red eyes and glowing auras.