Prophecy (1979)

A log company's waste mutates the environment, creating a giant killer bear-monster.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writer:

David Seltzer

Stars:

Talia Shire, Robert Foxworth, Armand Assante

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Talia Shire	...	Maggie
Robert Foxworth	...	Rob
Armand Assante	...	John Hawks
Richard Dysart	...	Isely
Victoria Racimo	...	Ramona
George Clutesi	...	M'Rai
Tom McFadden	...	Pilot
Evans Evans	...	Cellist
Burke Byrnes	...	Father
Mia Bendixsen	...	Girl
Johnny Timko	...	Boy
Everett Creach	...	Kelso (as Everett L. Creach)
Charles H. Gray	...	Sheriff
Lyvingston Holmes	...	Black Woman (as Lyvingston Holms)
Graham Jarvis	...	Shusette

Storyline

A Savage beast, grown to monstrous size and driven mad by toxic wastes that are poisoning the waters, spreads terror and death on a Maine countryside.

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Plot Keywords:

pollution | ecology | paper mill | cabin | monster movie | 

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Taglines:

The Monster Movie.

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1979 (France)

Also Known As:

Prophecy: The Monster Movie

Filming Locations:

Crofton, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$18,389,402

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot under tight security. No visitors were allowed to the sets, including studio personnel. Crew and actors had to pledge secrecy and not reveal any elements of the story under any circumstances. No still cameras were allowed except for the production's official still photographer and a retired CIA agent was hired to supervise the security.

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Goofs

Despite the movie supposedly taking place in the Maine woods, foliage and landmarks clearly show the area of the forests of British Columbia, where the movie was actually filmed.

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Quotes

Dr. Robert Verne: Can these people help us?
[Dr. Verne after saving a dieing mutant cub and treating it in a tent at the Indian site referring to some Indian men who are with Hawks]
John Hawks: They can send someone from the village.
Dr. Robert Verne: Send them. Tell them to get people here. I want people to see this. Is there a newspaper in town?
John Hawks: Yes.
Dr. Robert Verne: Get them here with a camera... and people from that paper mill... and that sheriff.
John Hawks: Not that sheriff. I can't do that.
Dr. Robert Verne: Hawkes! He'll see the truth here and you have more here at stake in this ...

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Alternate Versions

UK cinema and video versions received 8 secs of mandatory cuts by the BBFC to remove the shots of the raccoon writhing on the floor outside the cabin before the attack scene (the animal had been genuinely poisoned).

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Connections

Featured in The Riff Brothers (2010)

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Soundtracks

Just A Little Bit Of Funk
by Lionel Job and Delwin Gillman
Performed by Southroad Connection
Courtesy of Fourth World Productions

User Reviews

Typical 70's "Think About It" film

This movie was meant to scare you and make you ponder on the evils of pollution. Well it just made me laugh. A very cheesy low budget fare.

Even today, my kids and I still get a hoot over the camping scene when the "bear" literally knocks the feathers out the kid's sleeping bag. My kids like to rewind and play it in slo-mo.

It just goes to show that you can't mix horror and movies with a message.