Leave it to the Alamo Drafthouse to host a screening of a movie about an evil child with an audience comprised primarily of expectant mothers. Much like its all-female Wonder Woman screenings and clown-only It screenings held in 2017, the theater chain held a one-night-only advance screening of Orion Pictures’ upcoming horror film The Prodigy. And yes, this is the first screening of its kind (not that there is much competition in the “first pregnant mom advance screening for a horror film” category).

While there were no evil child-themed baby shower games to be played at the screening, the mothers-to-be were all greeted with free popcorn before they were all invited to the front of the intimate theater before the movie began. The women were all able to celebrate the miracle of pregnancy in unison while preparing for a film that was potentially going to induce them into early labor.*

*No one went into early labor during the screening of this film.

Director Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact, At the Devil’s Door) sent a personal message to greet the attendees:

“Thank you for agreeing to watch The Prodigy when you are pregnant.  You are all completely insane.

“As the father of a child that is the same age as the boy in the movie, I can say with some certainty that you should not fear what you are going to see, because most of it likely won’t happen to you. MOST of it.

“Also, enjoy going out at all because that privilege is about to be robbed from you for the next 20 years.

“In all seriousness, I really do appreciate that you have come out to see the movie and hope you like it.  You are wonderful people to come tonight,  And, I repeat: completely insane.“

The Prodigy tells the story of a young mother (Taylor Schilling, “Orange is the New Black”) who, concerned about her 8-year-old son’s (Jackson Robert Scott, IT) disturbing behavior, thinks something supernatural may be affecting him. Fearing for her family’s safety, Sarah must grapple with her maternal instinct to love and protect Miles in favor of investigating what – or who – is causing his dark turn. She is forced to look for answers in the past, taking the audience on a wild ride; one where the line between perception and reality remains blurry.

Look out for our review of the film when the embargo lifts next Wednesday!

Orion Pictures will release The Prodigy in theaters nationwide on February 8, 2019.