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Pimeyden valtias

Original title: Prince of Darkness
  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
49K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,468
512
Pimeyden valtias (1987)
Trailer for Prince of Darkness
Play trailer1:51
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Horror

A group of graduate students and scientists uncover an ancient canister in an abandoned church, but when they open the container, they inadvertently unleash a strange liquid and an evil forc... Read allA group of graduate students and scientists uncover an ancient canister in an abandoned church, but when they open the container, they inadvertently unleash a strange liquid and an evil force on all humanity.A group of graduate students and scientists uncover an ancient canister in an abandoned church, but when they open the container, they inadvertently unleash a strange liquid and an evil force on all humanity.

  • Director
    • John Carpenter
  • Writer
    • John Carpenter
  • Stars
    • Donald Pleasence
    • Lisa Blount
    • Jameson Parker
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    49K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,468
    512
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writer
      • John Carpenter
    • Stars
      • Donald Pleasence
      • Lisa Blount
      • Jameson Parker
    • 335User reviews
    • 212Critic reviews
    • 50Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Videos3

    Prince Of Darkness
    Trailer 1:51
    Watch Prince Of Darkness
    Prince of Darkness
    Trailer 1:52
    Watch Prince of Darkness
    Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary
    Clip 4:54
    Watch Through the Lens: Defining Carpenteresque and Why It Belongs in the Dictionary

    Photos133

    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Donald Pleasence and Victor Wong in Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Alice Cooper in Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Donald Pleasence in Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Pimeyden valtias (1987)
    Peter Jason in Pimeyden valtias (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Donald Pleasence
    Donald Pleasence
    • Priest
    Lisa Blount
    Lisa Blount
    • Catherine Danforth
    Jameson Parker
    Jameson Parker
    • Brian Marsh
    Victor Wong
    Victor Wong
    • Prof. Howard Birack
    Dennis Dun
    Dennis Dun
    • Walter
    Susan Blanchard
    Susan Blanchard
    • Kelly
    Anne Marie Howard
    Anne Marie Howard
    • Susan Cabot
    • (as Anne Howard)
    Ann Yen
    Ann Yen
    • Lisa
    Ken Wright
    Ken Wright
    • Lomax
    Dirk Blocker
    Dirk Blocker
    • Mullins
    Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
    Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
    • Calder
    Peter Jason
    Peter Jason
    • Dr. Paul Leahy
    Robert Grasmere
    • Frank Wyndham
    Thom Bray
    Thom Bray
    • Etchinson
    Joanna Merlin
    Joanna Merlin
    • Bag Lady
    Alice Cooper
    Alice Cooper
    • Street Schizo
    Betty Ramey
    • Nun
    • Director
      • John Carpenter
    • Writer
      • John Carpenter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Carpenter's first film that he made independently since Pako New Yorkista (1981). Not only because of the box office failure of his previous film Säpinää Chinatownissa (1986), but also his frustration with working with the studios.
    • Goofs
      Toward the end when Brian jumps out the window and the possessed people outside come towards him, it is clearly dawn and light outside. Shortly after, when the possessed is defeated and the mirror is broken by the priest, you can see them dispersing while it is night outside. Then Walter jumps out to get help and it is night as well. The next scene shows Walter with a blanket around him and is dawn again.
    • Quotes

      Voice: This is not a dream... not a dream. We are using your brain's electrical system as a receiver. We are unable to transmit through conscious neural interference. You are receiving this broadcast as a dream. We are transmitting from the year one, nine, nine, nine. You are receiving this broadcast in order to alter the events you are seeing. Our technology has not developed a transmitter strong enough to reach your conscious state of awareness, but this is not a dream. You are seeing what is actually occurring for the purpose of causality violation.

    • Crazy credits
      The opening credits last for nine minutes.
    • Alternate versions
      Television version is slightly reedited, suggesting that all that takes place in the film is just a dream that Jameson Parker's having:
      • after the opening credits there a new shot showing Parker's house from the outside (the theatrical version opens with a shot of Parker trying to perform a card trick).
      • at the beginning, after Parker watches on TV a program reporting the discovery of a new supernova, the narration goes on talking about the death of a millionaire and the discovery of a religious book in his library
      • all mentions of the dead priest, member of the Brotherhood of Sleep who took care of the church where the evil liquid is kept hidden, are deleted;
      • during the whole film, there are new inserted sequences showing Parker sleeping/dreaming in his bed
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Sicilian/Prince of Darkness/No Man's Land/The Glass Menagerie/The Whales of August (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Prince of Darkness
      Written by Alice Cooper and Kane Roberts

      Performed by Alice Cooper

      Produced by Michael Wagener

      Courtesy of MCA Records

      (C) 1987 Ensign Music Corporation, Ezra Music Inc.

      Screen Gems Music - EMI Music Inc.

    User reviews335

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Effective and Eerie
    One of the Director's most underrated Movies. This is almost a bona-fide Classic. The thing that keeps it from such an exalted status is a few major missteps. It starts with a very creepy setup and manages through most of the Film to keep that sense of Impending Doom with its Supernatural and Apocalyptic tone.

    The use of Ancient Texts and Religious language Prophecy is introduced but somewhat abandon as things unfold, giving way to more conventional displays of Zombie like Characterizations and Gore Movie conventions. When a Text translation is rendered on a computer screen... the goosebumps arise.

    The scariness is lessened by the end of it all as the Director veers away from the unseen Evil and things get a bit standard. Such as some unnecessary attempts at humor and a denouement that is a reflection of a weak wrap-up. One more item...hopefully, it should be clear by now that Sci-Fi Writers should completely avoid using specific dates in their Stories. It is a Death Trap, because as you discover here, the Dream induced message is coming from the year 1999. Oops!
    helpful•5
    0
    • LeonLouisRicci
    • Jun 5, 2013

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Prince of Darkness?Powered by Alexa
    • Who is the character shown in the main poster in IMDb?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1988 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • Mörkrets furste
    • Filming locations
      • LA Artcore, 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, California, USA(church)
    • Production companies
      • Alive Films
      • Larry Franco Productions
      • Haunted Machine Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,182,492
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,657,401
      • Oct 25, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,182,579
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
      • Dolby Atmos
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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