This 1998 sequel to the surprising 1995 hit, THE PROPHECY, continues the saga of the warring archangels, and with some additional plot twists. The original film broke some new ground in the horror genre, because when it debuted, SCREAM retreads were the current rage. THE PROPHECY created it’s own unique mythology, culled from Catholic theology, and subsequent films follow the rules defined by the original. Another reason why THE PROPHECY was a sleeper hit was due to the performances, most notably by Christopher Walken playing Archangel Gabriel (with a decidedly gangsterish glee). Well, Walken is back as Gabriel and is picking right up where he left off. Disney’s branch of genre films, Dimension, chose to skip a theatrical release of THE PROPHECY 2, and instead decided on a direct-to-video release. These decisions were not based on the quality of the film; rather, these were marketability issues. For instance, there is no alternative or rock music on the soundtrack, no soundtrack album, no music video, and no therefore, no MTV audience. Movies like the SCREAM and I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER franchises catered to this teen market, while THE PROPHECY had none of that. Dimension released THE PROPHECY 2 to DVD in late 1999.

Gregory Widen, writer and director of the original, serves as a producer this time around and keep things consistent to his original vision and concepts. Widen got Greg Spence to direct. This is only Spence’s second time at the helm, the first being that corny sequel, CHILDREN OF THE CORN IV: THE GATHERING. Besides the return of Walken, the film stars Jennifer (THE BRIDE) Beals as a strong-willed nurse, Valerie, who mates with an Archangel. Russell (ROMEO MUST DIE) Wong is the good Archangel in question, Danyael, who procreates with Valerie. Eric (BEST OF THE BEST) Roberts portrays Michael, leader of the good Archangels. Rocker Glenn Danzig has a small role as Archangel Samayael.

Valerie is driving her car to the hospital where she works, when a mysterious stranger (Wong) materializes in front of her car. The stranger is hit bad and an ambulance swiftly takes him to the hospital. Miraculously, he heals up overnight. Valerie feels guilty for hitting him, and quickly makes friends with the stranger named Dan. As Dan walks Valerie to her house, she feels attracted to him for some reason, and before you know it, Dan talks his way into her house and into her bedroom. When Valerie wakes up the next morning Dan has vanished.

Meanwhile Satan releases Gabriel from Hell, and Gabriel walks among the world of mortals again. Valerie begins to feel ill. She has a friend from the hospital run a check on her blood. It turns out Valerie is pregnant, and the fetus has a highly accelerated growth rate. Valerie is shocked because she only has had sex with no one except for Dan. The evil angel Gabriel faces off against Samyael and Danyael who represent the side of God. Danyael barely survives his encounter with Gabriel, and locates Valerie to let her in on a secret: Valerie is the mother of an human/angel hybrid who is prophecized to have the powers of an Archangel and the free will of a human.

Danyael informs Valerie that her child will rally the forces of darkness and enforce God’s will. As a result, the renegade Archangel Gabriel is hellbent on stopping that prophecy by murdering Valerie and her unborn baby. At first Valerie does not believe Danyael, but Gabriel soon catches up with her and begins to terrorize her. Just as Gabriel is about to deliver the killing blow, Danyael intervenes and temporarily grants her a reprieve, and she runs into the night. Gabriel recruits a teenage suicide victim, Izzy (Brittany Murphy) to aid him in his self-appointed task of tracking down Valerie and ending her life.

Danyael rejoins Valerie and informs Valerie there is only one safe place for her and her unborn child. That place is a heavenly retreat that resembles a massive industrialization plant. Here is where all the brooding angels reside, including the leader of Archangels, Michael (Roberts). Michael takes Valerie and Danyael into their heavenly realm, but informs them that Gabriel is on the way. Futhermore, he states that the centuries long struggle between the angels will end tonight. But the Archangels of God are forbidden to interfere in this decisive confrontation. The final combat will be between Gabriel and Valerie only!

Some memorable, mayhem-filled scenes:

The acting is competent from everyone (unusual for a horror film). Russell Wong proves he can act and perform martial arts. We get to see Jennifer Beals as we have never seen her before, as a mentally tough and intelligent woman who is forced to challenge her knowledge of reality and faith. Eric Roberts is pleasant and stoic as the mysterious leader of the Archangels. And of course, this is Christopher Walken’s movie. It may not have been intended that way, but he pretty much steals the show.

Many of the scenes have the actors silent. Facial expression, beautiful music, and powerful scenes makes this movie a winner. Christopher Walken is much more important in this movie then the last. The whole story evolves around him, and I must say, the use of Christopher works well. His dark emotional performances from earlier projects fit well into THE PROPHECY 2. Though the film on the whole, is not as good as the original, it does have more dark atmosphere then the first one, and a better sense of humor.

There are some impressive special effects and gore scenes in the film. The effects scenes mesh with the atmospheric production design to create dark, moody visuals. The production design team strike an equal balance with the cinematography. Some nasty gore scenes show you everything, while other scenes (such as Valerie witnessing Danyael’s transformation into a Archangel) are shown off-camera or in the shadows. The filmmakers’ leave a lot to the viewers imagination, and this approach works. The look of the film adds to the suspense and contributes in making THE PROPHECY 2 a memorable film and a worthy sequel.

The character of Gabriel and the acting of Walken fit together like a steel glove. This movie focuses on the evolution of the Gabriel character. We see where Gabriel’s mindset is at in the beginning of the film, and where his mindset is at the end. There is a big change in the evolution of the character over the first two films, and I imagine this progression will continue in the upcoming part 3.

- Darren Collette