The Prophecy ****½ (1995, Christopher Walken, Elias Koteas, Virginia Madsen, Viggo Mortensen, Eric Stoltz) – Classic Movie Review 817

Christopher Walken is on dazzling form here in 1995 as the angel Gabriel, who comes down to Earth to find a human soul that will end the stalemate of the second war of Heaven. But he’s not the only angel on Earth and humans are caught up in a battle between the angels.

They must find a way to stop Gabriel before he takes the soul from the place the angel Simon (Eric Stoltz) has hidden it. It turns out that only a former priest and a little girl can get in Gabriel’s way, if they can survive.

Elia Koteas co-stars as the priest turned detective Thomas Dagget, who befriends Katherine (Virginia Madsen) in figuring out the mysterious chain of events that starts with a car accident and a body that is found with missing eyes and weird physical deformities.

The Prophecy is a superb fantasy horror thriller movie, brilliantly written and directed by Gregory Widen, in his only film as director, though he wrote Highlander (1986) and Backdraft (1991). It’s both eerie and lusty as an expert mix of thoughtful supernatural chiller and full-on horror movie. Though made on a fairly low budget ($8million), it’s also a very good-looking movie that profits from its Arizona location filming. Richard Clabaugh and Bruce Douglas Johnson’s work as joint directors of photography is outstanding.

With his worrying slicked back hair, pale complexion and mostly black wardrobe, Walken creates a memorable, scary creature and indeed monster. It would be easy to be slack and make this a one-dimensional caricature, but Walken is fired up and makes it a true 3D character. Viggo Mortensen also makes an excellent impression as Lucifer, splashy and impactful even though his role is fairly small.

The Prophecy one of those rare special cult movies you need to see time and time again, twice a year easily.

The Prophecy II and The Prophecy 3: The Ascent followed in 1998 and 2000, both with Walken. They’re essential parts of a great trilogy.

In the 1993 Madonna Bad Girl video, Walken plays a similar-looking Angel of Death who silently follows Madonna as she is being destroyed by her lifestyle.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 817

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