The Prodigy (2019)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
A mother must confront the terrifying possibility that a sinister spirit has taken control of her son's body.
The story
After a serial killer is killed in 2010, a young boy named Miles is born in 2010. While he initially displays extraordinary intelligence, his behavior becomes increasingly disturbing as he reaches age eight. His parents, Sarah and John, begin to notice alarming changes, including a violent outburst at school and strange recordings of him speaking a foreign language. When they seek expert help, they discover that the boy's behavior may be linked to the spirit of the deceased killer. Sarah and John must then navigate a terrifying reality where they are unsure if their son is still there or if something else has taken hold.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 2010, serial killer Edward Scarka is killed, and shortly after, Miles is born. By 2018, Miles' behavior turns violent and disturbing. After a psychiatrist and an expert on reincarnation, Arthur Jacobson, identify that Miles is speaking a Hungarian dialect containing threats, the parents realize a spirit may be inhabiting the boy. Arthur confirms the spirit is Scarka. After a series of escalating incidents, including the disappearance of their dog and Miles' disturbing behavior, John is injured in a car accident after a confrontation with his son. Sarah discovers that Scarka is trying to reclaim his final victim, Margaret St. James. Sarah attempts to eliminate the threat by confronting Margaret at her home. During the confrontation, Miles attacks Margaret with a knife. Sarah believes she has driven the spirit out, but it is revealed that Scarka has taken full control of Miles' body, and the boy's soul is lost. Sarah is then killed by a bystander. The film ends with Miles in a foster home, looking into a mirror where the reflection shows the face of Edward Scarka.
- Original title
- Descendant
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 92
- Production countries
- United States; Canada; Hong Kong
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Nicholas McCarthy
- Writers
- Jeff Buhler · writer
- Cast and characters
- Taylor Schilling · Sarah Blume; Jackson Robert Scott · Miles Blume / Edward Scarka; Colm Feore · Arthur Jacobson; David Kohlsmith · Miles, age 5; Paul Fauteux · Edward Scarka; Brittany Allen · Margaret St. James; Peter Mooney · John Blume; Oluniké Adeliyi · Rebecca
- Genres
- horror; thriller
- Themes
- possession; supernatural; parental protection
- Tone and mood
- dark; tense
- Setting
- Rural Ohio and Pennsylvania, 2010-2018.
- Premise and plot tags
- evil child; serial killer; possession
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances and atmosphere but criticized the story and dialogue.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 44%; Metacritic · score: 45 · scale: 100 · review count: 18; CinemaScore · score: C+ · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 64%
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled Descendant.; The film includes a real interview about James Leininger.; A scene was re-edited because it made a test audience scream too much.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…