USA. 2017.
Crew
Directors/Screenplay – Alex Haughey & Brian Vidal, Producer – Alex Haughey, Photography – Hisonni Johnson & Genaro Marzan, Music – Igor Nemirovsky, Visual Effects – Brian Vidal, Special Effects – B.J. Thomas, Makeup Effects – Daniela Mirabal. Production Company – High Noon California.
Cast
Richard Neil (Dr James Fonda), Savannah Liles (Ellie), Jolene Andersen (Agent Olivia Price), Emilio Palame (Colonel Birch), Aral Gribble (Ryan McCroskey), David Linski (Dr Keaton)
Plot
Psychologist Jimmy Fonda is called in by an old colleague Olivia Price on behalf of the military. They want him to conduct an assessment of nine year-old Ellie who they have a prisoner. Fonda goes into to talk to Ellie, finding that she has phenomenal intelligence. The military regard Ellie as dangerous but Fonda insists that she be released from her constraints. It is then that Ellie begins to demonstrate psychic powers.
Prodigy was a directorial debut for both Alex Haughey and Brian Vidal, both of whom had made assorted short films beforehand and had edited, produced and photographed the other’s work. Haughey subsequently went on to solo direct the non-genre comedy Under the Influencer (2023).
Prodigy is conducted with remarkable economy. There is a cast of only six actors, while the majority of the film consists of only Richard Neil and Savannah Liles together in one room. The entire show takes place in two rooms – there is a hallway outside and at the start and some minor flashback scenes and that is it. It still manages to be a gripping film.
The film has a simple premise – a psychologist is brought in to assess a gifted child who everybody insists is dangerous. From the point that Richard Neil enters the room and Savannah Liles begins picking up and analysing what he is doing with a startling perspicacity, Prodigy becomes quite electrifying. As said gifted child, Savannah Liles gives a cold, chill and remarkably intelligent performance that makes you sit up and pay attention.
Prodigy soon reveals it is a particularly well written story. The dialogue between Richard Neil and Savannah Liles is sharp and taut. There comes the chilling moments where Savannah Liles talks about how she killed her mother, or how she starts reading all of the Rorschach cards that Richard Neil holds up in terms of images of blood and murder. “Was she [your mother] afraid of you?” Neil asks, which gets the response “No, but she should have been.” The chess game scenes between the two provide great tension.
Prodigy should not be confused with Nicholas McCarthy’s The Prodigy (2019) about a serial killer reincarnated in the body of a child or the animated The Prodigies (2011), which was also about psychic children.
Trailer here