The Prophecy (1995)

Director:

Gregory Widen

Writer (WGA):

Gregory Widen (written by)

Release Date:

1 September 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

Dagget consults the most unlikely of sources for advice.

Plot:

The angel Gabriel comes to Earth to collect a soul which will end the stalemated war in Heaven, and only a former priest and a little girl can stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Heaven | Angel | Soul | Corpse | Young Girl

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Gabriel
Elias Koteas	...	Thomas Dagget
Virginia Madsen	...	Katherine
Eric Stoltz	...	Simon
Viggo Mortensen	...	Lucifer
Amanda Plummer	...	Rachael
Moriah 'Shining Dove' Snyder	...	Mary (as Moriah Shining Dove Snyder)
Adam Goldberg	...	Jerry
Steve Hytner	...	Joseph
J.C. Quinn	...	Burrows
Emma Shenah	...	Grandmother
Albert Nelson	...	Grey Horse
Shawn Nelson	...	Indian Healer
Emily Conforto	...	Sandra
Sioux-z Jessup	...	Nurse

Also Known As:

God's Army (Europe: English title)
God's Secret Army (Europe: English title)
Seraphim (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and gore, and for some language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Finland:(Banned) (1995) (uncut) | Finland:K-16 (1995) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (2002) (uncut) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Hungary:18 | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:M | Denmark:15 | Germany:18 | Norway:18 (video premiere) | UK:18 (video premiere) | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Superior, Arizona, USA

Company:

First Look International

Trivia:

In a bit of truly inspired foreshadowing, in 1993, 2 years before this films release, Christopher Walken played an eerily similar role to that of his portrayal of the Archangel Gabriel in The Prophecy. In the Madonna video for the song "Bad Girl" (from her album "Erotica"), Walken plays the Angel of Death who silently follows a woman (Madonna) as she is being destroyed by her lifestyle. Though there is no speaking part, his mannerisms and look are strikingly similar to his later depiction of Gabriel - even down to his slicked back hair, pale complexion and mostly black wardrobe.

Goofs:

Plot holes: Even though Thomas Dagett's writings are found at the scene of a possible homicide (that of Uziel at the hands of Simon), Detective Thomas Dagett is not named as a murder suspect in the subsequent murder investigation.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Simon: I remember the First War, the way the sky burned, the faces of angels destroyed. I saw a third of Heaven's legion banished and the creation of Hell. I stood with my brothers and watched Lucifer Fall. But now my brothers are not brothers, and we have come here where we are mortal to steal the Dark Soul, not yet Lucifer's, to serve our cause. I have always obeyed, but I never thought the War would happen again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hellraiser: Prophecy (2006)

Soundtrack:

Breakin' Down

Worth a watch

I have watched this film several times and have enjoyed it every time. Christopher Walken is excellent as Gabriel, as he has a presence on screen that just cannot be beaten. The theological side of the story is much more interesting than angels being fluffy creatures most people believe in, and are closer to the angels described in older scripts and texts. You can enjoy this film without being pulled in by beliefs and religion so don't be frightened of it, enjoy the film and another sterling performance by Walken.