Prophecy (1979)

So much average

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Prophecy is one of those films I'd never heard of, went entirely under my radar. I can confidently say it has aged remarkably well and it's astonishing that it was made in the 1970's.Starring Talia "Adriiiieeennne" Shire & Armand "One facial expression" Assante this tells the story of a doctor and his girlfriend who venture to the forests of Maine to bring peace between loggers and native Americans.Trouble is something's out there killing folk and the loggers believe its the native Americans! Well it's not in fact it's a great big creature that I'm sure must have been Trey Parker & Matt Stones influence for South Parks very own Manbearpig. The likeness is truly uncanny.Essentially a mystery film with a creature feature addition this is actually a perfectly watchable film and looks great. Practical effects, memorable story though a bit of a lackluster finale.If you like your beastie films you can do worse and Al Gore is super serial about this one.The Good: Looks great Manbearpig The sleeping bag death was ridiculous yet hilarious The Bad: Couple of weird writing decisions Assante is just terrible Lead was very lifeless as was Shire I was rooting for the monster Things I Learnt From This Movie: Manbearpigs cannot swim but can breath underwater Am I the one only one who expected the giant fishy to eat Manbearpig at the end?Mathmatically half man, half bear and half pig might not be feasible

The description given does NOT do this film justice! There are MULTIPLE mutant creatures in this nature contamination classic. I would also add that it's pretty intense for it's PG rating! Good lines, good story, and some very good acting by a few 70's-'80's familiar faces make this a very underrated, lost gem. I cannot believe there exists no deluxe DVD edition of this!

Humanitarian Dr. Robert Verner (Robert Foxworth) is asked to help out the Environment Protection Agency in a bitter land dispute between a paper mill and the neighbouring native Americans. While investigating, Verner discovers that a chemical leak from the mill has been causing mutations in the wildlife, resulting in a massive, monstrous, bear-like creature that roams the land killing at will.In early Hollywood movies, the Red Indian was a whoopin' and a hollerin' savage intent on scalping heroic cowboys, but by the '70s, the white man was feeling a tad guilty about stealing the Indians' land and then depicting them as bloodthirsty brutes, and so tried to atone for their actions by thereon portraying the native American as a peaceful, noble breed, living in harmony with the environment, while showing Caucasians to be untrustworthy rogues. Director John Frankenheimer's Prophecy is not only guilty of this ridiculous politically correct reversal of stereotypes, but it fails to offer horror fans much to get excited about: the plot is predictable eco-warrior garbage, there is little to no gore, and the monster is utterly laughable.Several scenes do, however, make this one just about worth a watch, albeit for the wrong reasons: brave Native American John Hawk (played by Italian/Irish actor Armand Assante) locked in a chainsaw vs. axe battle with a lumberjack, a hilarious attack by a raccoon on the doctor and his wife (Talia Shire), and the unforgettable sight of a kid in a sleeping bag being swatted like a fly by the creature are all guaranteed to make you smile.

A good movie about what can happen when dangerous waste enters the water supply. Rob( Robert Foxworth), is a doctor who is asked to go to Maine over a land dispute. A dispute that involves the lumber mill; and the Indians.As soon as he is asked, Rob brings his wife Maggie(Talia Shire). Once there they meet the lumber yard owner Isley( Richard Dysart). Isley is very hardheaded; and hates the locals. He blames everything that has gone wrong on them, such as violence, murder; and disorderly conduct. He chalks it up as the typical Indian. The Indians don't like him because he is destroying their land by taking the lumber; and using it for his paper/lumber mill. The locals just want to preserve the beauty; and not destroy it. John Hawks(Armand Assante) and Ramona(Victoria Racimo) are the head villagers. The two begin to work closely with Rob and Maggie, once trust is gained. Hawks and Ramona tell Rob and Maggie horrible stories about deformities, still births, and deaths that have occurred.What has turned out to be a land dispute turns into an investigation on a rash of illnesses plaguing the village.When Maggie and Rob meet( Muri) Maggie's grandfather; he explains more about the area. He tells them that it is the Garden of Eden, where everything grows big. Maggie says she heard of another legend of Kadardin. After hearing this Rob is suspicious of the mill using chemicals in the water. They take a trip to the lumber mill; and talk to Isley. Once there Isley gives them a tour and shows them the different stages of making paper.Rob asks Isley if they use chemicals in the processes. Isley claims no harmful chemicals are used only chlorine. Isley tell him he can test the water if he wants. After leaving Rob still has doubts, especially after seeing a huge salmon, a tadpole 10x it's size, and a raccoon that suffered from rabies. Then when he notices the silvery dry liquid on Maggie's shoe it begins to make since. Rob now knows what is causing deformities. It is Mercury the people, animals, trees all have some Methyl Mercury poisoning in them.The abnormalities, in the animals, peoples behavior changing and the creature that stalks the woods. It is all a sign of Methyl mercury poisoning. The creature that is responsible for deaths and disappearances is a deformed creature due to the tainted water. Rob, Maggie, John, Ramona and Isley will eventually stop the creature. Along the way some discoveries are sad, and some will perish. The most troubling is that Isley knew what was going on and still used it due in part to it being cheap. Near the end Rob and Maggie do make it out alive, but the movie has a twist. As the plane leaves a new mutation appears; and a new cycle of terror begins.I gave this film a 7/10, because it had a great plot. I remember seeing this along with Friday the 13th back in Dayton, Oh. when I was 8. I was with my folks and it creeped me out. The two movies scared me because I did go camping every year. The ending of Prophecy was a big shocker, because I didn't expect it. If the monster at the end looked like the monster through out the movie this film would be a solid 8. It is somewhat dated, but still creepy. I agree Robert Foxworth does resemble Robert Reed when he sported that perm back in the day, LOL. For any horror/ suspense fan that misses great horror films, look no further than this thriller. It has it all from beginning to end.THX, Kris L. CocKayne