The Devil’s Child

The Devil’s Child

Year: 1997

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Bobby Roth

ThrillerHorror

A mother, desperate to save her dying daughter, strikes a last‑minute bargain with the Devil, unknowingly offering her child's very soul as the price. The daughter survives but is cursed with infertility. Two decades later she becomes inexplicably pregnant after meeting a handsome stranger, while mysterious deaths begin to surround her.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Devil’s Child (1997)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Devil’s Child (1997). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The events take place in modern times, reflecting everyday urban life, current medical science, and present-day relationships. Settings shift from nightlife and apartments to hospitals and churches, grounding the supernatural in a recognizable present-day world. The pacing and technology cues indicate a near-current era.

Location

Bar, Hospital, Apartment Building, Church, University

The story unfolds in a contemporary urban setting, with Nikki's apartment serving as a constant focal point. Key locations span a neon-lit bar, a hospital where medical miracles occur, a stark church where rites are performed, and a university where Alex Rotha teaches and manipulates. These spaces juxtapose everyday life with supernatural threat, shaping a moody, nocturnal atmosphere.

🏙️ Urban ⛪ Religious 🏥 Medical 🏢 Apartment 🎓 University

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

Main Characters – The Devil’s Child (1997)

Meet the key characters of The Devil’s Child (1997), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Nikki DeMarco (Kim Delaney)

A successful photographer who is increasingly skeptical of faith and religion. She becomes entwined with a mysterious and dangerous lover who turns out to be Satan in disguise, and her pregnancy confronts her with a fate she never imagined. Despite her doubts, she fights to protect herself and her unborn child, seeking sanctuary in faith when hope seems lost.

🎯 Protagonist 📷 Photographer 🧭 Skeptic 🌙 Supernatural 💪 Determined

Alexander Rotha (Alex Rotha)

A charming theology professor who hides a sinister truth: he is Lucifer in disguise. He manipulates Nikki and seduces her into a dangerous romance, blurring the lines between intellect and malice. His true identity is revealed through Nikki's growing awareness and investigation into the unsettling events around her.

🧭 Manipulator 📚 Professor 👹 Supernatural 💘 Charismatic 🔥 Threat

Rose DeMarco

Nikki’s mother who, in a moment of desperation, makes a pact with Satan to save her daughter. Her decision carries a heavy cost and reverberates through Nikki’s life, intertwining maternal love with doom. Her death marks a turning point that pushes Nikki toward or away from faith depending on the moment.

🧭 Mother 🕯️ Sacrifice 💔 Tragic 👵 Elder 🗝️ Pact

Father Domenico

A priest who senses something malevolent at work and becomes a source of guidance for Nikki. He understands the danger of the demonic influence and ultimately participates in rites that culminate in baptism and exorcism. He embodies traditional religious authority in the struggle against evil.

🙏 Priest ⛪ Faith 🛡️ Protector ⚔️ Exorcism 🗝️ Knowledge

Dr. Zimmerman

A physician involved in the hospital scenes who confirms extraordinary medical miracles surrounding Nikki’s pregnancy. He represents modern science confronting the inexplicable, grounding the plot in clinical reality even as the supernatural intrudes.

🩺 Doctor 🧬 Medicine 🧪 Science 🏥 Hospital ⚕️ Authority

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

Major Themes – The Devil’s Child (1997)

Explore the central themes of The Devil’s Child (1997), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕯️ Faith vs Doubt

Religious doubt and occult temptation intersect as Nikki grapples with signs of evil and the seductive appeal of occult power. The film pits secular skepticism against sacred rites, with a priest’s warnings and a mother's doomed pact steering the course of events. As miracles and portents appear, the characters search for meaning beyond science. Faith, ritual, and doubt drive the tension toward a climactic confrontation.

🔥 Demon Pact

The narrative pivots on a forbidden pledge that ties Nikki’s fate to a satanic force. A mother’s desperate bargain spawns a life-altering pregnancy that defies medical expectations. The enigmatic Alex Rotha embodies temptation, enchanting Nikki while concealing his true identity. The pact orchestrates a deadly battle between power, love, and destiny.

👶 Parenthood

Nikki’s pregnancy becomes the central test of motherhood under supernatural pressure. The birth scene and the subsequent baptism symbolize grace confronting malevolence, even as danger closes in. The child’s life prompts acts of faith—baptism in a church—as Nikki seeks protection in sacred rites. The arc ultimately frames motherhood as both a source of strength and a conduit for redemption.

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 20:33

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about Devil's Pacts like The Devil’s Child

Characters make a dark supernatural deal, only to face the terrifying, unforeseen price.If you liked the desperate deal with the Devil in The Devil’s Child, you'll find more movies like it here. This collection features supernatural thrillers and horror films where characters strike dangerous pacts, leading to terrifying consequences and battles against dark forces for their very souls.

faustian bargainsupernatural debtdesperatesinisterconsequencesoccultchillingfaith-based

Narrative Summary

The narrative typically begins with a moment of extreme desperation leading to a supernatural agreement. The initial relief is short-lived, as the story then follows the gradual and ominous revelation of the pact's true, horrifying terms. This builds towards a climactic confrontation where the characters must fight to undo the deal or mitigate its catastrophic fallout.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared central plot device—a supernatural pact—and the resulting tone of dread and moral consequence. They share a high-intensity, dark atmosphere where characters are forced to confront the ultimate price of their desires.

Religious Horror Thrillers with a tone like The Devil’s Child

A sinister evil threatens, forcing characters to confront it through faith and ritual.Fans of the faith-driven battle against evil in The Devil’s Child will appreciate these similar movies. This list includes horror and thriller films centered on supernatural oppression, exorcism, and the struggle between good and evil, all with a dark, serious, and suspenseful tone.

exorcismdemonicoppressivesinisterfaith-basedchillinggood vs evilreligious

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread often begin with the manifestation of an inexplicable, malevolent presence. The plot follows the characters' growing realization that they are facing a supernatural foe rooted in religious or occult lore. The journey involves seeking help from religious figures or rediscovering their own faith to perform a ritual or battle that is as much psychological and spiritual as it is physical.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific vibe defined by a dark, oppressive tone, high stakes involving spiritual damnation, and a focus on religious iconography and battles. The pacing is typically steady, building methodically towards a climactic confrontation between forces of good and evil.

Unlock the Full Story of The Devil’s Child

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Devil’s Child in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Devil’s Child is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Devil’s Child Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Devil’s Child, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Devil’s Child Summary

The Devil’s Child Timeline

Track the full timeline of The Devil’s Child with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

The Devil’s Child Timeline

The Devil’s Child Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of The Devil’s Child that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

The Devil’s Child Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Devil’s Child

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about The Devil’s Child: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About The Devil’s Child

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Discover movies like The Devil’s Child that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.