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Prince of Darkness (1987) 6.6
A research team finds a mysterious cylinder in a deserted church. If opened, it could mean the end of the world. Director:John CarpenterWriter:John Carpenter |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Donald Pleasence | ... | ||
| Jameson Parker | ... | ||
| Victor Wong | ... | ||
| Lisa Blount | ... | ||
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Dennis Dun | ... | |
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Susan Blanchard | ... | |
| Anne Marie Howard | ... |
Susan Cabot
(as Anne Howard)
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Ann Yen | ... | |
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Ken Wright | ... | |
| Dirk Blocker | ... | ||
| Jessie Lawrence Ferguson | ... | ||
| Peter Jason | ... | ||
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Robert Grasmere | ... | |
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Thom Bray | ... | |
| Joanna Merlin | ... | ||
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A sinister secret has been kept in the basement of an abandoned Los Angeles church for many years. With the death of a priest belonging to a mysterious sect, another priest opens the door to the basement and discovers a vat containing a green liquid. The priest contacts a group of physics graduate students to investigate it. Unfortunately, they discover that the liquid contains the essence of Satan himself, and they also discover that he will release HIS father - an all-powerful Anti-God! The liquid later comes to life itself, turning some of the students into zombies as the Devil comes forward to release his father. Will these students be able to stop him? Written by Derek O'Cain
Taglines:
Where are you...? Christ? See more »Genres:
HorrorParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USARelease Date:
23 October 1987 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness See more »Box Office
Budget:
$3,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
$14,182,492 (USA)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Ultra StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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Wyndham: [insects emerge from his body]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
This is the second film in what John Carpenter calls his Apocalypse Trilogy. The others are The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness. See more »Goofs
When Lisa is typing "I Live!" over and over on the computer keyboard, her fingers in no way match the letters being typed on the screen. See more »Quotes
Wyndham: [Wyndham looks like a corpse] Hello... Hello... I've got a message for you... and you're not going to like it.Wyndham: [insects emerge from his body]
See more »
An old priest who belonged to a cryptic sect passes away. A new priest is assigned to the church and he discovers a bizarre basement with an even more bizarre object in its center - a big vat of green moving liquid. He summons the help of some investigators and the ensuing field study reveals some very frightening revelations about the liquid - it is the essence of Satan. Then the liquid leaks out of the canister...
After a few films in the studio system, most notably "Big Trouble in Little China," which undeservedly flopped, Carpenter returned to his roots in small budgeted horror/thriller films. The result was this and it could have hardly been better. The infamous eerie music makes an especially profound effect in this film, which admittedly starts slow, but when it takes of it takes all of your nerves with it.
Unlike many horror popular films this film focuses very heavily on conversation. Atmosphere is of course put first, but the dialog is very interesting and makes for a film that is frightening on a thinking level. There are a well timed moments of violence, but it is on a intellectual level where this film scares the crap out of you. Carpenter must have done a good amount of research as the characters try to use various scientific concepts and terms to describe what they are slowly falling victim to. The dialog very heavily resembles H.P. Lovecraft's writing, who was unrelenting in providing the rational and thought-out narration of his protagonist. One can bet that it is this element that made it necessary for this film to be made independently. The shock isn't visceral, but no less effective.
The only downside are a few really goofy moments ("I said a rich doctor!"), but they are ultimately forgivable and are not as sorely out of place as you might think. 8/10
Rated R: horror violence