Alright, you connoisseurs of creepy kids and forgotten ’80s horror oddities, gather ’round the flickering cathode-ray glow of your nearest haunted TV set.
Today, we’re dissecting The Godsend (1980), a British psychological horror flick that wants so badly to be The Omen but ends up more like The Omen’s weird, low-budget cousin who shows up uninvited to family gatherings and stares at you a little too long.
Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont (one of the few women directing horror in this era, which is cool, even if the film itself is… questionable), this is a slow-burn chiller about an adopted demon child, parental denial, and the fact that some people really shouldn’t be allowed to procreate—or, in this case, adopt .
The Plot (Or: “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong”)
A wholesome British family—Alan (Malcolm Stoddard), Kate (Cyd Hayman), and their four (!!) kids—take in a mysterious pregnant woman (Angela Pleasence, daughter of horror legend Donald Pleasence, and yes, she’s just as unsettling as her dad). She gives birth in their home, then poof—vanishes, leaving behind a baby girl named Bonnie.
Fast-forward a few years, and the Marlowe kids start dropping like flies in “accidents” that suspiciously always happen when Bonnie’s around. Alan grows increasingly paranoid, Kate remains in deep denial (like, Olympic-level denial), and Bonnie? Well, she just keeps smiling that creepy, knowing smile while her siblings mysteriously perish .
Is Bonnie a supernatural menace? A demonic cuckoo bird pushing the other chicks out of the nest? Or just a really, really unlucky kid? The film hints at supernatural forces but mostly plays it as a psychological thriller—until the ending, which throws subtlety out the window like a doomed Marlowe child .
Why This Movie Is Worth Your Time (Or At Least a Drunken Double Feature with The Bad Seed)
- Angela Pleasence: The Ultimate Creepy Stranger
In her brief screen time, Pleasence (the birth mom) steals the show with her eerie, detached performance. She’s like if a haunted porcelain doll came to life and decided to gaslight an entire family. Every line she delivers feels off, and her disappearance is the best thing that happens in the movie (for the audience, not the Marlowes) . - Bonnie: The Most Passive-Aggressive Horror Villain Ever
Unlike Damien from The Omen, Bonnie doesn’t need a hellhound or a nanny with a penchant for suicide. She just… exists, and kids around her die. The film’s restraint works in its favor—her dead-eyed stares and sudden, violent outbursts are more unsettling than any CGI demon . - The Cuckoo Theory: Nature vs. Nurture Gone Wrong
The film’s central metaphor (Bonnie as a cuckoo bird, eliminating her “siblings” to monopolize parental attention) is a legitimately disturbing concept. Too bad the execution is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the face. Still, points for trying to blend folk horror with domestic dread . - The Parents: Horror’s Most Oblivious Couple?
Alan and Kate might win the award for Least Observant Horror Movie Parents Ever. Their kids keep dying in increasingly suspicious ways, and yet Kate’s like, “Oh, Bonnie would never!” while Alan’s just now realizing that maybe something’s up. The marital tension is almost as gripping as the horror—almost . - That Ending: WTF Just Happened?
Without spoiling too much, the finale is baffling. Alan sees the birth mom again, now pregnant and targeting another family, implying Bonnie’s just one in a long line of evil babies. It’s a dark twist, but it also feels like the filmmakers ran out of ideas and just… stopped .
The Flaws (Because No Horror Movie Is Perfect)
- Pacing Like a Funeral Procession
This is a slow burn, and not in a good way. The deaths are spread out, the middle drags, and by the time Alan finally gets a clue, you’ll be yelling at the screen . - Too Much Denial, Not Enough Payoff
Kate’s refusal to believe Bonnie’s evil stretches credibility past the breaking point. At some point, you’d think one dead kid would be a red flag. But no. Four. Four dead kids . - The “Is It Supernatural?” Problem
The film can’t decide if Bonnie’s evil is supernatural or just really bad luck. The ambiguity could’ve worked, but the execution leaves it feeling half-baked .
The Verdict (Should You Adopt This Movie Into Your Collection?)
⭐️⭐️ ½ (2.5/5 – “Flawed but fascinating, with moments of genuine creepiness.”)
For:
- Fans of slow-burn, psychological horror (The Bad Seed, Don’t Look Now).
- Killer kid completists who’ve seen The Omen one too many times.
- Anyone who’s ever side-eyed a suspiciously well-behaved child.
Against:
- Gorehounds (this is bloodless horror).
- Anyone who needs a coherent ending.
- People who think parenting in horror movies should make some logical sense.
Justin’s Final Thought:
The Godsend is a weird, uneven flick with flashes of brilliance buried under questionable choices. It’s not good, per se, but it’s interesting—the kind of movie you watch with friends just to yell, “HOW ARE YOU NOT SEEING THIS?!” at the screen. If you’re into vintage British horror with a side of familial dysfunction, give it a shot. Just… maybe don’t adopt any mysterious babies afterward .
Pair With: The Bad Seed (1956) for classic evil kid vibes, or Village of the Damned (1960) for more creepy blonde children.
Sound off below! Would you keep Bonnie after the first dead kid? How many red flags are too many? And does Angela Pleasence deserve more horror roles? Discuss! 👶🔪⚰️
P.S. The Scream Factory Blu-ray is out of print, but you can still stream it on MGM+ if you’re feeling brave .
