Bless the Child is a 2000 supernatural thriller film directed by Chuck Russell and starring Kim Basinger, Jimmy Smits, and Holliston Coleman. The film follows Maggie O'Connor (Basinger), a registered nurse who is raising her nephew Cody (Coleman), who is autistic. Maggie is a devoted aunt who loves Cody deeply and struggles to connect with him, but finds a way to communicate with him through music.
One day, Maggie's estranged sister, Jenna (Angela Bettis), suddenly reappears in her life after years of drug addiction and trouble. Jenna has changed and is now a member of a mysterious cult led by Eric Stark (Smits), a charismatic and sinister figure who has a special interest in children. Jenna wants Maggie to join the cult and give Cody to them, claiming that they can cure his autism.
Maggie refuses, but Jenna and Eric kidnap Cody and take him to their compound. Maggie teams up with FBI agent John Travis (Rufus Sewell) to find her nephew and uncover the cult's deadly agenda. As they investigate, they discover that Cody is a special child with unique abilities that make him a target for the cult's twisted beliefs.
The film explores themes of faith, sacrifice, and good vs. evil, and features a strong performance by Basinger as the determined and brave Maggie. Bless the Child received mixed reviews from critics but was a moderate box office success. It is notable for its use of real autistic children in the film to accurately portray Cody's behavior and mannerisms.