Prophecy DVD

Original Zone 2 disc

96 min / 18 age restriction / stereo audio / full screen (image for illustration only)

A prime candidate for cult status (it even spawned two sequels), The Prophecy is a 1995 apocalyptic horror flick that belongs in the darker corners of the comedy-horror sub genre alongside Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mimic and Phantoms--and like those movies it's a mixed blessing with some highlights worth savouring.

This one's got Christopher Walken in its favour, starring as the Angel Gabriel, who's really mad at God for allowing humans into heaven (because, you see, humans have souls and angels don't, and God plays favourites). Gabriel takes his anger out on the human race, coming to Earth to capture the soul of the most evil human alive in an effort to defeat the "good" angels that remain in God's good graces. One of the good angels is played by Eric Stoltz, who captures the evil soul before Walken does and transfers it into the body of a little girl.

Are you with us so far? Don't worry if you're not, because writer-director Gregory Widen filled The Prophecy with so many wild ideas that he didn't bother to connect them to a coherent plot. Add Viggo Mortensen as the devil and Elias Koteas as a priest-turned detective who's tracking Walken and it's clear that Widen was attempting something ambitious here. He nearly succeeded, since The Prophecy jumpstarts its heaven-and-hell rivalry with enough action, humour, and intelligence to make the movie sufficiently entertaining. It was enjoyable enough to entice Walken back for the sequel, so if you're into this kind of thing, this one's a keeper.