The Godsend Blu-ray Review

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

The Godsend (1980): A Chilling, Flawed Supernatural Horror 

Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont and based on Bernard Taylor’s 1976 novel of the same name, The Godsend is a British supernatural horror film that delves into the unsettling premise of an evil child. Released in 1980, the film follows a family whose lives are disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious woman and the child she leaves behind—a child who may not be what she seems. While The Godsend has moments of genuine dread and psychological tension, it struggles with pacing and narrative execution, leaving it as an intriguing but flawed entry in the evil-child horror subgenre. 

Plot Overview: A Family’s Nightmare Unfolds

The story begins with a pregnant woman played by Angela Pleasence appearing during the Marlowe family’s walk. Kate (Cyd Hayman) and Alan Marlowe (Malcolm Stoddard) decide to take her in. Alan notices something unusual about her behavior, particularly her persistent staring at him. After giving birth to a daughter at their home, the woman mysteriously disappears, leaving the baby behind. The Marlowes choose to raise the child and name her Bonnie. 

As Bonnie (Wilhelmina Green) grows up, strange and tragic events begin occurring around her—particularly the deaths of the Marlowe children, one by one. Alan becomes increasingly suspicious of Bonnie, believing her to be the cause, while Kate dismisses his fears as paranoia. The film builds toward a climactic confrontation where the true nature of Bonnie’s malevolence is revealed. 

Atmosphere and Direction: Slow-Burning Dread

Gabrielle Beaumont, primarily known for her work in television, brings a restrained, almost TV-movie aesthetic to The Godsend. The film lacks the visual flair of more stylized horror films of the era, but it compensates with a slow-building sense of unease. The English countryside setting—with its isolated farmhouse and misty landscapes—adds to the eerie atmosphere. 

Beaumont’s direction focuses on psychological horror rather than overt scares, emphasizing the disintegration of the family unit. The deaths of the children are handled with a disturbing matter-of-factness, making them more unsettling than graphic. However, the film’s pacing suffers in the middle act, where repetitive scenes of Alan’s growing suspicion and Kate’s denial drag the tension down. 

Performances: A Mixed Bag 

The performances in The Godsend range from compelling to underwhelming. Cyd Hayman delivers a strong portrayal of a mother unraveling under the weight of grief, but her refusal to acknowledge the obvious about Bonnie’s malevolence is less convincing, even as her gradual descent into near-madness is one of the film’s highlights. Malcolm Stoddard, as the suspicious father, is even less convincing and, even more, frustrating, for his lack of action in the face of the obvious. 

Wilhelmina Green, as Bonnie, is suitably creepy in her quiet, blank-faced way, though the script doesn’t give her enough overtly sinister moments to make her truly terrifying. Angela Pleasence (daughter of horror legend Donald Pleasence) makes a memorable impression in her brief but haunting role as the enigmatic birth mother. 

Themes: Motherhood, Grief, and the Supernatural

The film touches on the idea of the “changeling”—a supernatural child substituted for a human one—which has roots in folklore. Bonnie’s unnatural influence over the family’s tragedies suggests an ancient, almost folkloric evil, though The Godsend never fully commits to explaining her origins, leaving some ambiguity that may frustrate viewers seeking clearer mythology. 

Comparisons to Other Evil-Child Horror Films 

The Godsend inevitably draws comparisons to other evil-child films like The Omen (1976) and The Bad Seed (1956). While it lacks the grandiosity of The Omen or the psychological depth of The Bad Seed, it shares their central theme of parental horror in realizing their child is a monster. However, The Godsend’s lower budget and slower pacing prevent it from reaching the same iconic status. 

A Flawed but Intriguing Curio 

The Godsend is an uneven but occasionally effective horror film. Its strengths lie in its unsettling atmosphere, strong lead performance by Cyd Hayman, and the disturbing premise of an unnatural child destroying a family from within. However, sluggish pacing, underdeveloped characters, and a lack of truly terrifying set pieces hold it back from being a classic. 

For fans of slow-burn psychological horror or those interested in obscure 1980s British horror, The Godsend is worth a watch—but it may leave some viewers wanting more. It remains an interesting, if flawed, entry in the evil-child subgenre, offering just enough chills to linger in the memory. 

The Video

The Godsend was released on Blu-ray by Scream Factory in 2015, and this Kino Lorber release apparently uses the same HD restoration. While acceptable, the image could benefit from a new 4K scan and restoration due to some source damage and loose grain structure. The aspect ratio is listed as 1.85:1 but it is actually 1.78:1 on disc in an AVC 1080p encodement.

The Audio

The original mono mix is presented in a fine DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track that presents the sound cleanly and with good dynamics.

The Supplements

The on-disc extras are limited to one audio commentary and the theatrical trailer.

• Reversible sleeve
• Slipcover
• Commentary by Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell, and Nathaniel Thompson
• Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 00:01:57)

The Final Assessment

The Godsend is an intriguing horror film that straddles the subgenres of paranormal and folk horror, yet it lacks a decisive narrative focus, resembling a television movie in its execution. While the Blu-ray transfer does not meet contemporary standards, it remains adequately satisfying. Enthusiasts of the genre may still find considerable enjoyment in this film.

The Godsend is out on Blu-ray March 18, 2025 from Kino Lorber

• Rating Certificate: R
• Studios & Distributors: London-Cannon Films | Kino Lorber
• Director: Gabrielle Beaumont
• Written By: Olaf Pooley | Bernard Taylor
• Run Time: 93 Mins.
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Video Format: AVC 1080p
• Primary Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Street Date: 18 March 2025