By Mermaid (Guest Critic)
I was looking forward to seeing this movie. I heard about it last year and thought it would probably be released in November. Then it go pushed to April 2004, and I knew something was up. When a movie gets pushed to a different date it usually means there are problems.

Godsend is about the Duncans, Jessie (Romijn-Stamos), Paul (Greg Kinnear), and their son Adam (Cameron Bright). The film opens at Adams 8th birthday party. All their friends and family are there and things seem to be humming along until tragedy strikes.

While on a shopping outing with his mom, the day after his birthday, Adam becomes the victim of a horrific accident. The couple is grief stricken when they are approached by Dr. Richard Wells (Robert De Niro). He offers the Duncans an interesting proposal when he tells them he can bring Adam back. All he needs is a stem cell from Adams now lifeless body, and they can start their life over again with a clone of the original Adam.

At first they are taken aback by such a preposterous offer, but the grief gets the best of them and they give in. The procedure is secretive, and illegal. It will be performed at a lab where no one knows them. But in order for the plan to go ahead, they must sever all ties with friends and family.

They agree.

Dr. Wells sets them up in a lakefront home in Vermont, decorates it, and even gets Paul a position teaching at the local high school. All they have to do is remain quiet about the procedure. Any questions, or problems they are to only talk to Wells. It happens, Jessie is pregnant, and baby Adam is reborn.

Things go well for the couple and their child until he reaches his eighth birthday. Then things go spinning out of control. Night tremors begin, mysterious incidents occur at home and at school, and the good doctor can't really explain them. Afterall, this is uncharted territory and there is no way to know what Adam will do now that he's past eight years old. The parents are terrified with no place to go, and no one else to turn to.

There are thrills and chills, that on occasion, will have you jumping out of your seat. However they are far and few between, making the film seem longer then it actually is. And there is a story within the story involving the doctor and the loss of his own son that will surprise you.

This is a story ripped right out of today's headlines, what with all the talk about cloning. Beware, even though the United States government has ruled against human cloning, don't be surprised if, in the near future, a scientist from another country presents to the world his new creation. Dr. Frankenstein I presume!

Mermaid