| The
Review: |
Anyone
who thinks horror movies today are cliched and boring ought
to check out "Prophecy," John Frankenheimer's 1979 horror
mishmash that takes moviemaking to an all-new low. While some
may gain a few laughs from the movie, and young children may
be scared witless, anyone familiar with the horror genre will
be sorry they wasted their time. ****
Attempting
to pull a spin on the creature features of the 50's, the film
centers around Dr. Robert Verne (Robert Foxworth), a medical
practicioner who aids those who cannot afford assistance.
He is soon called into action when he learns of a situation
brewing in upstate Maine, where there are rumors of environmental
pollution in the water. So, packing his belongings and his
wife, Maggie (Talia Shire), he heads up to investigate. ****
Just
when we thought that the plot couldn't get any less interesting
(how could anyone forget that ridiculously staged opening
chase, and the dipstick characters?), things get worse, with
the inclusion of a squabble between the local Indians who
populate the woods, and those who wish to clear the land for
God knows what reason. Robert and Maggie make nice with some
of the natives, who lead them to some very interesting clues.
Soon, they discover an abundance of mercury in the water from
a paper mill upstream, which could be responsible for the
slimy, inside-out grizzly bear that is wreaking havoc as it
searches for it's lost child. ****
I think the thing that plagues this film more than anything
is its lack of energy, originality, or spark. The moralistic
center of the plot, revolving around human tampering with
Mother Nature, is well-worn and old news, and since we know
this is what the story is trying to tell us, we can pretty
much guess what's going to happen from there. Robert makes
his discoveries long after we've already made our deductions,
resulting in a predictability factor that ruins what little
intensity the movie may have possessed (if any at all). ****
As for the cast, there's not much to discuss. From Foxworth's
character's constant scientific ramblings to Shire's excessive
expressions of fatigue and listlessness, I got the impression
that a lot of effort was not needed in bringing these bland
characters to life. Their moments as a married couple are
bland and unconvincing; when Maggie fidns out her pregnancy
may be in jeopardy as a result of the mercury-contaminated
fish that was their dinner, it all goes downhill. Even Armand
Assante is completely wasted in the role of a defiant Indian
who will go to extremes to save his land from destruction.
****
Those
watching "Prophecy" may find themselves prone to extensive
mutterings of such phrases like "Oh, come on..." "Please..."
"What were they thinking?" Those who grew up with this sort
of thing may find joy in its simple-mindedness, but those
who like the slightest bit of verve in their horror films
will find this to be a most bland dish of muddled fodder.
**** --
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