The Godsend

The Godsend

Year: 1980

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Gabrielle Beaumont

HorrorThriller

When a pregnant stranger vanishes after giving birth, an English family of six adopts her infant, naming her Bonnie. As the children begin to die under mysterious circumstances, the parents grow increasingly convinced that the seemingly innocent girl may be harboring a deadly, supernatural secret. Mother vanished; deaths feel tied to Bonnie.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Godsend (1980)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Godsend (1980). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

Set in late 20th-century Britain, the story unfolds in a contemporary era with familiar suburban rhythms. The narrative follows the family’s relocation, daily routines, and a chilling sequence of unexplained deaths. The period grounds the horror in an ordinary world that becomes increasingly unsettling.

Location

London, England, Marlowe family home

The action shifts between the Marlowe home in England and urban London. Key locations include a suburban residence, a playground, a creek and a barn where tragedies unfold, and the Tavereners’ apartment in London. The settings blend ordinary domestic life with eerie, suspenseful elements that heighten the film's sense of dread.

🏙️ Urban 🌳 Rural 🏠 Domestic 🕵️‍♀️ Mystery

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Main Characters – The Godsend (1980)

Meet the key characters of The Godsend (1980), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alan Marlowe (Malcolm Stoddard)

A protective father who grows convinced that Bonnie is connected to the children’s deaths. He becomes increasingly driven to safeguard Lucy and ends up taking drastic steps that strain his marriage. His rational, methodical approach clashes with Kate’s denial, pushing the family toward a breaking point.

🧭 Rational 😨 Paranoid 🛡️ Protective

Kate Marlowe (Cyd Hayman)

A devoted mother who initially defends Bonnie and doubts Alan’s suspicions. She clings to the idea that their family can endure the mystery and remains in denial about Bonnie’s potential danger. Her steadfastness keeps the family connected even as cracks widen.

💖 Nurturing 🛡️ Protective 🧠 Stubborn

Bonnie (the baby) (Wilhelmina Green)

The newborn whose presence triggers a chilling chain of events. She exerts a disturbing influence over family dynamics and is central to the tension surrounding the deaths. Her behavior hints at a malevolent power beyond ordinary explanation.

🌀 Disturbing 👶 Mysterious 🧪 Unsettling

Bonnie as Baby (Joanne Boorman)

The infant form of Bonnie, foreshadowing the ominous impact she will have as she grows. Though younger and seemingly innocent, this version is part of the same unsettling force affecting the family.

👶 Innocent 🌀 Foreshadowing 🔮 Ominous

Lucy Marlowe (Angela Deamer)

The younger sister whose safety becomes a central concern as Bonnie’s influence grows. Alan’s focus on protecting her creates tension with Kate, who believes Lucy remains unaffected. Lucy embodies the vulnerable child caught in adult fears.

👧 Loyal 🛡️ Fragile 🧠 Observant

Davy Marlowe (Lee Gregory)

The eldest son who dies in a creek, triggering a family crisis. His loss is the catalyst for the spiraling fear and suspicion that follows Bonnie’s appearance.

👦 Tragic 💔 Loss 🕯️ Mourning

Sam Marlowe (Piers Eady)

The middle son who dies in a barn, magnifying the sense that Bonnie is linked to the family tragedies. His death deepens the mystery and heightens parental fear.

👦 Tragic 💔 Loss 🕯️ Mourning

The Stranger (Angela Pleasence)

A mysterious pregnant woman who arrives with Bonnie and leaves behind a question of Bonnie’s true origin. Her presence catalyzes the unraveling of the family’s reality.

🤰 Mysterious 🗝️ Origin 🧪 Unknown

Mrs. Taverner (Anna Wing)

A neighbor who becomes entwined in the Marlowes’ life as events unfold. She represents the intrusion of ordinary life into a world that grows increasingly dangerous.

🏠 Neighbor 👀 Watchful 🗝️ Complicating

Mr. Taverner (Artro Morris)

The neighbor husband who interacts with the family and provides a connective link to the home environment amid rising tension. His presence ties domestic stability to the surrounding danger.

👨 Neighbor ⚖️ Tension 🛡️ Shielding

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

Major Themes – The Godsend (1980)

Explore the central themes of The Godsend (1980), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗝️ Forbidden Knowledge

Bonnie's arrival exposes a troubling mystery tied to the deaths of the children. Alan becomes convinced that Bonnie is not ordinary and may wield a disturbing influence. The theme centers on the danger of uncovering truths one cannot control.

🕯️ Guilt & Grief

The family is crushed by the losses of Davy, Sam, and the enigmatic role Bonnie plays in their lives. Kate sinks into depression while Alan grapples with blame and the urge to protect Lucy. The narrative explores how guilt fractures relationships and drives desperate actions.

👪 Family Bonds

A fractured family unit is tested by fear, jealousy, and competing loyalties. Alan and Kate clash over what to do about Bonnie, revealing how love can become a battleground in the face of danger. The story probes the limits of parental protection and the consequences of its breakdown.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:24

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Supernatural evil child movies like The Godsend

Stories where a seemingly innocent child harbors a malevolent, otherworldly threat.If you liked the chilling premise of The Godsend, explore more movies where a child is the source of supernatural terror. These films focus on the unease of a threat from within the family, blending psychological dread with supernatural horror for a uniquely unsettling experience.

sinisterunsettlingparanoidoppressivedread-filledsupernatural horrorfamily terror

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a pattern of gradual discovery, where initial strange events escalate into undeniable supernatural occurrences. The central conflict involves family members or guardians slowly realizing the truth about the child, leading to a struggle between their protective instincts and the need to confront a horrifying reality.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the 'evil child' archetype as a central, supernatural antagonist. They create a specific brand of horror rooted in the violation of safety and trust, often leading to tragic consequences and a pervasive sense of paranoia.

Family tragedy horror films similar to The Godsend

Horror stories where a family is systematically destroyed by an unstoppable force.Find movies like The Godsend that deliver horror through the lens of family tragedy. If you were affected by the heavy emotional weight and bleak portrayal of a family unraveling, these recommendations offer similar experiences of grief and loss within a suspenseful framework.

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Narrative Summary

These stories unfold as a series of devastating losses, stripping away the family's members and sanity one by one. The emotional journey is central, charting a path from normalcy to profound grief and despair, often leaving survivors broken and the family structure irreparably shattered.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their commitment to exploring the horror of familial collapse. The similarity lies in the oppressive mood, the high emotional weight centered on grief, and the bleak endings that emphasize the finality and devastation of the tragedy.

Unlock the Full Story of The Godsend

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Godsend 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 Godsend is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Godsend Summary

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The Godsend Summary

The Godsend Timeline

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The Godsend Timeline

The Godsend Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Godsend Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Godsend

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