Danger - Angels! (The Prophecy (DVD))

Member Name: Whitehorse

Product:	The Prophecy (DVD)
Date:	04/10/02 (374 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent script, direction, acting and score

Disadvantages: None

"Did you ever notice how in the Bible whenever God needed to punish someone or make an example of someone or needed a killing he sent an angel? Did you ever wonder what a creature like that must be like?"

I like Christopher Walken. He's just one of those actors that captures my imagination. It comes as no surprise to read that he used to be a dancer and apparently his trademark is to work a dance into any movie he makes. He has grace and poise and that extraordinary ability to send shivers of fear up your spine. He's intense without being ham, deep without being dreary, funny in the darkest of ways. It is perhaps for all these things he was chosen to play lead character Gabriel in The Prophecy - an extraordinary film in my opinion.

Written and directed by Gregory Widen, The Prophecy has a great tagline - "There's a war in heaven and hell is about to break loose" Widen seems from his resume to have a career based on fantasy/horror films: movies such as the Highlanders, Tales from the Crypt and Backdraft litter his career. Nothing I've seen of his has such pace and elegance.

Enter Thomas (Elias Koteas), a cop used to the harsh world and it's a world away from his original chosen vocation of priest. Just as Thomas was about to take his vows God shows him more than he ever wanted to see. He loses his faith not for seeing too little but from seeing too much. Years later Thomas is called to the scene of a murder, an ancient Bible containing the 23rd chapter is found and soon he is caught up in the greatest war in heaven and earth.

Gabriel is mad as hell. God loves the "talking monkeys" (i.e. humans) way better than him or all the angels that chose to stay with God after Lucifer was thrown out for standing up to the big guy. Well that's how Gabriel sees it anyway. Walken portrays intense bitterness, malice and hate with absolute ease and wit. Heaven has been split with angel warring w
ith angel. Gabriel is the leader of those who have rebelled in heaven and seeks the darkest soul born on earth as prophesied in the 23rd Chapter of Revelations (which doesn't exist). This dark soul is the key to winning the battle and Gabriel wants it without question. Unfortunately Simon (played by Eric Stoltz), an angel still doing the work of God - is intent on stopping him and secrets away the soul in a child called Mary.

Moriah Morning Dove Snyder (what a fantastic name!) is wonderful as the little girl choking on the blackest soul that ever existed. I found her believable and frightening. There's a particularly uncomfortable scene that I won't explain here but she takes everything in her stride.

I can imagine that some people would find this film disturbing as in places it is a little gory but this is all part of the film rather than gore for gore's sake. What captures me is the script. It's just a fantastic script full of black comedy and chilling thoughts. Walken savours the finest comedy moments adding even greater depth to Gabriel as he does so. Joseph the coroner is also incredibly funny in that dry wit delivery way. The plot is pacey and tense and leaves you sitting at the edge of your seat. You know that things will probably be okay but somehow Widen leaves you with that uncomfortable feeling that things will never be the same again.

Visually the film is very appealing with wonderful expansive races across open countryside and fantastic scenes of the angels perched like birds on buildings or chairs. It looks impossible that they can balance but they do. The actors must have practised for weeks! The score also adds to the film and I would love to have a copy of it just to listen to.

I have always liked the horror genre (although I can't watch them on my own at night) but it is rare to get a film that makes you question and listen as much as this. I found myself utterly enthralled and now I actu
ally own the video (50p curtesy of a jumble sale) I know I shall watch it again. Personally I find it is one of those films that can be better the second or third time around as you notice things you didn't notice before.

It is good to see a film that doesn't offer the usual black and white, good and bad morality. The angels are complex and difficult - even gentle Simon portrays that little something extra that you would not necessarily expect from your average angel - something strangely sinister. Neither is Christianity revered or raised above other faiths - Native American spirituality is a big part of the story. Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) is deliciously wicked but even he holds a key of truth - an ability to understand the true nature of what happening. I watched the film with friends and we all were chilled by Lucifer's speech to Thomas when he says he really was there under the bed just as Thomas feared as a child *shudder* I like a film that leaves me with questions - one that challenges the audience's preconceived ideas and The Prophecy does exactly that.

If I had to complain about anything then I would have to have a small moan that Amanda Plummer only takes a small part. As one of my favourite actresses I felt a little disappointed. But that is just trying to find something bad and really she only added to my enjoyment just with her presence.

Oh and the bloke who plays Simon looks scarily like an ex-boyfriend but that's a whole other story!

Running at just over an hour and a half it's quite a short film but doesn't feel unnecessarily cut. I'm not sure what else could have been done to extend it and that says something again about the writing - to be so economical with a script but still have it work is a difficult art.

An excellent film on all counts - now go and rent it!

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