Prodigy, 2018.
Directed by Nathan Leon.
Starring Cory Kays, Hailey Henry, Embry Johnson, Tyler Roy Roberts, and King Amir Allahyar.
SYNOPSIS:
A father must protect his estranged son from the outside world when the boy accurately predicts three end-of-world events.
There’s a great film inside Nathan Leon’s Prodigy, hell it’s still an enjoyable film. But deep down, I can’t help to think about the potential this premise and story has to offer, and how this final product didn’t achieve that. Again, Prodigy is by no means a disaster, but there are more impressive ideas started than fully completed with this. Let’s use a particular scene from the beginning as an example. There’s a shot of the young Caleb (Embry Johnson) in handcuffs, and his imprisonment is a theme throughout. That one chilling image instantly stood out. With the current political climate in America, this entire message of a government interfering in a kid’s life makes for a great conversation starter in the film. Again, there are some broad ideas presented, but it ends up just barely touching on anything serious. These conversations get started and don’t ever go too far.
While it isn’t the writer and director Nathan Leon’s job to discuss such real issues, his intelligent work calls for things to go a bit deeper than surface level. A little more heart and soul to go with the heartful father/son story at the core would’ve done wonders to the film. Since it never challenges you as a viewer, it’s hard to get invested in a reasonably familiar story to us. It’s like eating the same meal every day; it fills you up and curves your hunger, but doesn’t leave a last impression in the end.
Diving into the film itself, Prodigy tells the story of Erik, a father dealing with separation from his child. Although it isn’t quite a normal situation as his son, Caleb, is being held by the government due to his ability to predict end-of-the-world events. Caleb reaches out to his estranged father to reach an undisclosed location and receive a “divine message” that can change the course of humanity. As a way of rebuilding his relationship with Erick, as well as keep his son safe, they journey together and risk everything to get to the location and change the world.
On the surface, the story isn’t too groundbreaking but the extra elements of this kid thinking he is doing the right thing, and the father’s inability to help does elevate the material. Like previously mentioned, Prodigy never wanders too deep into the ideology its plot presents, but the emotional drama is there. The scene where Erik first sees the condition his son is held in, that was extraordinarily heartbreaking and handed very well. Even when the acting feels a little disjointed, the tension carries through any inexperience. There isn’t a powerful moment like this again until the very end, but the movie bookends with powerful moments and that help the film have a more lasting impression. It’s best for a piece to start and end strong then never pick up and finish flat. Any film should at least have its audience leave on a good note; it helps the reviews and word-of-mouth very much; hence why it’s easier to compliment Prodigy for a strong ending even when the second act drops the ball.
The film has a music video look to it. The cinematography isn’t bad but doesn’t fit the piece very well. The look and aesthetic felt more like a country music video more than a feature film. It never feels amateur, but it seems like Prodigy’s technical side doesn’t match the story and direction of the film. The editing of the film and its sound design feel a little flat, never really reaching the dramatic flair presented on the screen. While it doesn’t look or feel like a lousy movie due to the filmmaking, one can’t help but wonder if they would’ve found an aesthetic that matches them, how much stronger the final product could’ve turned out.
Does Prodigy come with a recommendation from myself? Yes, but it isn’t a very powerful one. The film itself does exactly what it sets out to do, but don’t expect anything above and beyond the normal. The acting is okay, with newcomer Embry Johnson stealing the show as he gets the best material in the film, and the direction shows a lot of potential for something more. Director Nathan Leon has a lot of raw talent, but it just needs to be baked a little longer. In the end, this makes me want to see more from this director and more of this world, even if Prodigy isn’t perfect by any means.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
EJ Moreno
