Prince of Darkness was fucking TERRIFYING

[fabfunk]

Just saw this last night and man, did I sleep poorly. Creepy as hell, I woke up thinking that my memory of seeing it was a nightmare of some sort. That video/dream transmission of Satan... who shit, that's terrifying.

Anyone else in this boat with me?

[The Blue Equinox]

Hells yeah! This movie scared the shite outta me, and still does. The tachyon transmission, with the robed figured standing in the church entrance raising his arms (not to mention the twist take on this at the end) stuck with me a long time after first watching it.

Also, one part that is just the creepiest ever was when all the bugs start pouring out of that guy and he says some lines in that wicked wierd voice. *SHUDDER!*

[Doug]

"I have a message for you. You're not going to like it. Pray for death."

[Floydian Trip]

Great movie and yeah scared the hell out of me when I first saw it. Very unsettling. One of my favorite Carpenter flicks.

[zombiesdontrun]

One of the best movies ever. It's what horror is supposed to be like.

[billylove]

I didn't like this one. It felt too much like a best of film for Carpenter. Plus having all your favorite actors in it didn't help too.

I'm not knocking it, just I didn't like it.

[David Toy]

1987 was a great year for horror. I went to Prince of Darkness three times the week it opened and I just loved it. The plot is goofy as hell, but it somehow worked perfectly for me. Tacyons sent back in time and Christ was an extraterrestrial sent to warn the Earth about a jar full of Satan. The dreams and that blonde woman at the end were the things that frightened me the most. Alice, the guy full of bugs and that ending were a few of other things that got to me in that film. One of my favorite Carpenter films.

[Ah, Alucard]

"It's so wonderful what you're doing, father ... opening the church again"

Definitely the scariest film I've ever seen. So many little details, tricks and techniques to make it not just 'jump' scary, but by turns strange, chilling, puzzling, nihilistic, gory, surreal and shlocky in a way that gets into your mind and stays there. The vaguely Lovecraftian aspects - the 6 million year-old canister, the ancient texts and cults, and the malevolent 'anti-god' just seal the deal.

I've seen it criticised as just being a film about "hitting zombies with bits of wood" - but IMO that is to miss so much of the film you may as well have sat there with your eyes closed. Or your ears, as the brilliant, driving soundtrack adds hugely to the experience of subtle, almost intangible dread.

I think what really makes it for me is the hopelessness of it all. You can stab a masked psychopath, shoot an alien, blow up a monster ... but what can you really do against the forces displayed here?

[Jacob Singer]

I can't believe there are people who find this movie scary, or even entertaining.

[BATTY [Roy]]

"SSSSSCCCHHHHwe are SSCCHHtransmitting from the year one, nine, nine, nine...SSSCCCHH"

Absolutely one of THE creepiest American (said cuz the Asians cornering the market on "creepy" anymore) movies ever. I loved the whole transmission from the future thing. The 'mark' in the bruise on the blonde chick, projectile vomiting devil-juice on people... It worked like gangbusters. And like previously said, the hopelessness of it all is true horror.

Probably gonna pick this up at Best Buy this weekend.

[zombiesdontrun]

I can't believe there are people who find this movie scary, or even entertaining.

If I could still give out negative reputation points you'd get about 10. ass

[Jacob Singer]

And I would wear them like a badge of pride. Prince of Darkness was mediocre at best, boring as hell at worst.

[Isao Kanemasa]

I found it entertaining, mostly due to the professionalism and undeniable presence of Carpenter vets Victor Wong and Donald Pleasance. Overall, it was quite moody and atmospheric, but not that scary.

[Charlie Brigden]

Has Victor Wong ever been in a movie that wasn't entertaining?

Shit. Didn't know dude was dead...

[Andrew Clarke]

well it starts of f really dull, and it's full of 80's hair, but bits of it stay with me today and i haven't seen it in a decade - the character that gets stuck behind the mirror - with their hand outstretched...

yeah, i'll join with the love of this film. i'm gonna have to watch it again. damn this website, making me remember all these cool films i have to watch again.

[Subotai]

Isn't the church for this film now an Asian-American theatre in L.A.?

Good flick, some FX are very good while others are startlingly lame. They should've had all the possessed folk start to degrade upon possession.

Dennis Dun freaking out in the closet is always good for a laugh.

[zombiesdontrun]

And I would wear them like a badge of pride. Prince of Darkness was mediocre at best, boring as hell at worst.


And you're a jackass at best , asshat at worst. Prince of Darkness was a great movie with loads of "creepy" atmosphere with a good sense of dread . Sure.. it had it's fall backs like having born again Christian Republicans like Alice Cooper in it . But I can overlook this small flaw and enjoy the movie for one of the greatest movies ever made. It's a masterpiece. If you don't like it, you don't like horror. period . ass

[Jacob Singer]

But I can overlook this small flaw and enjoy the movie for one of the greatest movies ever made. It's a masterpiece. If you don't like it, you don't like horror. period . ass

Wow.

Just wow.

I mean... wow.

[Jack19]

And you're a jackass at best , asshat at worst. Prince of Darkness was a great movie with loads of "creepy" atmosphere with a good sense of dread . Sure.. it had it's fall backs like having born again Christian Republicans like Alice Cooper in it . But I can overlook this small flaw and enjoy the movie for one of the greatest movies ever made. It's a masterpiece. If you don't like it, you don't like horror. period . ass

Dude, realx. He dosen't like the movie, you do. Who gives a shit? I hate it when people get all mad and self righteous because somebody has a diffrent opinion about a movie. It's an opinion, he is just as right as you are.

[Chris Allen]

Jeez, what harsh opinions.

Yeah, there is a cheese factor to Prince of Darkness, but to say it was not entertaining is saying a lot. Even Ghosts of Mars was somewhat entertaining, even though it's 98% concentrated shit.

Saw PoD on video when it first came out, about 15 years ago. Scary, a little, but haunting because of the time travel, Messiah thing. That was a nice twist that adds that something-to-think-about-later apsect.

"I can't believe there are people who find this movie scary, or even entertaining."

Singer, are you the type who allows themselves to be scared in a horror movie, or are you the type who will fight to prove that a movie is not scary, no matter how hard they try? Just wondering. Not trying to be a dick.

[zombiesdontrun]

Dude, realx. He dosen't like the movie, you do. Who gives a shit? I hate it when people get all mad and self righteous because somebody has a diffrent opinion about a movie. It's an opinion, he is just as right as you are.



I give a shit! That's who!

[Altar]

Since everyone has seen this I wanna talk about the ending. I loved this movie BUT I am tired of humans in movies beating evil and the old gods. Its not realistic. I wanted that fucker out and crushing skulls. I wanted a new sheriff in town

[Subotai]

I can easily buy anyone not finding this film suspenseful. It does have its share of holes. Hoss' son in need of a chiropractor does not guarantee goosebumps.

Everything is subjective. I find the original Thing more frightening than the remake, and I bet I'm in the vast minority there.

[Royal]

Vast minority might be an understatement there.

I saw parts of Prince of Darkness when I was a kid, back in the late 80s when USA or HBO would show these movies. I remember it being a lot more scary than it was when I saw it in the past year again for the first time. This seems to happen a lot. But I will admit some good moments of creepy atmosphere. Maybe the section where everyone is trapped in the separate rooms and hallways and that whole song and dance.

[Syngen Smythe]

I can't believe there are people who find this movie scary, or even entertaining.

LOL

I got to say that when I first saw this film, a long time ago, it was with much anticipation. By the end however I remember being hugely dissapointed, so I'm kind of siding with Jacob here. It has been ages since I saw it though and since so many people here seem to love it, I guess I need to see it again.

Glad to see Zombie spreads his particular brand of offensive idiocy across all the Messageboards though.

[Ah, Alucard]

Isn't the church for this film now an Asian-American theatre in L.A.?
Really? It would be awesome if they hadn't fixed it up or anything, and it was still the rotting, awful place it was in the film. Even the tree at the gates was scary!

I'd definitely go there to watch something, although I'd probably run away if I saw any homeless people with bicycles.

[Jacob Singer]

"I can't believe there are people who find this movie scary, or even entertaining."

Singer, are you the type who allows themselves to be scared in a horror movie, or are you the type who will fight to prove that a movie is not scary, no matter how hard they try? Just wondering. Not trying to be a dick.

I love genunely scary movies, and I love being scared. The Exorcist, The Thing, The Devil's Backbone, Psycho, Halloween, Alien, Hellraiser, The Omen, dozens of others. But for me, Prince of Darkness just doesn't work. Does it have moments of atmosphere? Sure. But I remember how much I was looking forward to it, how frightening the ad campaign made it look, but the actual film disappointed on almost every level. I'm glad others seem to like it, but it still surprises me, just like I'm surprised that people derive enjoyment from Ghosts of Mars in a non-ironic way.

[Doug]

Roger Ebert thought Ghosts Of Mars was better than The Thing.

[Jacob Singer]

<shudder>

[FrankCobretti]

'The Devil's Backbone:' least scary horror movie ever.
'The Others:' now, there's a scary movie.

On topic, I thought POD was pretty good when I first saw it. I revisited it on video a few years back, however, and am of the opinion that it hasn't aged well.

[Greg Hansen]

Tacyons sent back in time and Christ was an extraterrestrial sent to warn the Earth about a jar full of Satan.

I love that.

And I love this flick.

[zombiesdontrun]

'The Others:' now, there's a scary movie.




15 negative reputation points

[Chris Allen]

15 negative reputation pointsI'm interested, zombiesdontrun, if PoD is a "Masterpiece", what are your top 5 horror movies??

[zombiesdontrun]

I'm interested, zombiesdontrun, if PoD is a "Masterpiece", what are your top 5 horror movies??


No particular order..


Prince of Darkness
Dawn of the Dead
Day of the Dead
Friday the 13th part 2
The Thing

[alice's girl (chucky's ex)]

The church across the street from where I used to live looked EXACTLY like the one from POD, including the creepy guys around and everything. I loved it. I just missed Alice Cooper.

[Gus Bjork]

I saw this on opening night when it first came out, a midnight showing, and was so excited.

I left the theater so disappointed.

I haven't seen it since but I wonder if I should. Perhaps it would be better the second time around and with lower expectations.

[Doug]

Perhaps it would be better the second time around and with lower expectations.
Most Carpenter films are.
Movies I didn't like the first time around, but now appreciate-
Big Trouble In Little China
They Live
Prince of Darkness

Maybe I should revisit Escape From LA...

[Werbal_Kint]

I love Carpenter to death, but Prince of Darkness is probably my least favorite of his that I have seen. To me, it's just a silly film. Sure, it's fun to watch Donald Pleasance AND Victor Wong in the same movie, but beyond that the film was just slow and not scary at all.

[Floydian Trip]

Most Carpenter films are.
Movies I didn't like the first time around, but now appreciate-
Big Trouble In Little China
They Live
Prince of Darkness

Maybe I should revisit Escape From LA...


I feel the same way. My first post on these message boards was about how I felt the 2nd half of JC's filmogrophy was shit. Since then I have revisited them all with the exception of Escape From LA and they've really grown on me. I now have a huge John Carpenter section in my DVD's. I grew to appreciate the films even more after reading the book John Carpenter: The Prince of Darkness. Great book.,

[fabfunk]

For the record, the movie scared the shit out of me, but... I would LOVE to see a remake.

[Ah, Alucard]

A remake would be weird. A lot of the appeal of the original was down to the fact everything was so derelict, so ordinary and so disused - the buildings, the people, the faiths, everything.

(and I swear I have a fear of cracked plaster and rusted iron because of this film, and think of that church every time I see a run-down building)

I just liked the way the end of the world was coming not out of big ornate temples, or somewhere amongst grand, dramatic scenery, but instead in some shitty neighbourhood in Los Angeles. It made it more, well, real.

And I just automatically associate 'remake' with gloss, glitz (and lack of soul) - and I just can't see a modern-day horror film being made that was full of warty old tramps and funny-looking old men.

Presumably they'd have to cut out some of the quantum physics rubbish as well, to make it more ... understandable?

I'd be interested to see it, don't get me wrong, I just think a lot of what makes it good is the way it's a product of the times, the places, and of Carpenter himself as he was back then - and none of those things really exist any more, sadly.

[Floydian Trip]

Very true Alucard. It's one of those that should never be remade. It's a period piece.

[The Watcher]

I feel the same way. My first post on these message boards was about how I felt the 2nd half of JC's filmogrophy was shit. Since then I have revisited them all with the exception of Escape From LA and they've really grown on me. I now have a huge John Carpenter section in my DVD's. I grew to appreciate the films even more after reading the book John Carpenter: The Prince of Darkness. Great book.,

It is a very good book - it put alot of his work into perspective.

As for Prince of Darkness, I dont think its one of his best fims, but it is one of his scariest

[cfMC]

when I saw this in theaters I didn't like it, probably because I was in catholic high school at the time and it seemed especially hokey to me. but I keep watching it since and it is a lot of fun in very tried and true John Carpenter fashion.

I dig how the openingish scene with Pleasance priest at table with artifacts recalls similar opening in The Fog. there is a lot of stuff that goes on quickly in this movie before some longer setpieces play out in confinement. the same is true with Escape From LA I would say (although the rest of the movie is not as claustraphobic)

[HellSpawn]

I like it very much, but then again I love almost all of John Carpenter movies (yes, even GoM), except for Vampires, I kinda like it but loose interest in last 20 minutes of the movie. K'mon the vamps should have won, hands down.

But the Thing remains JC's best movie ever, it is simply a masterpiece.

[joeymjr29732]

I first saw this movie my first year in college way back in 1987 or so on late night HBO. I had all the lights off and i have to say it really freaked me out. By the end of the movie, I was literally on the edge of my seat.
Now, I saw it again a few months ago on a Saturday afternoon. It was still a good movie, a little dated, but creepy, but it didn't have the same effect it had on me 17 years ago...

Joey

[cfMC]

I first saw this movie my first year in college way back in 1987 or so on late night HBO. I had all the lights off and i have to say it really freaked me out. By the end of the movie, I was literally on the edge of my seat.
Now, I saw it again a few months ago on a Saturday afternoon. It was still a good movie, a little dated, but creepy, but it didn't have the same effect it had on me 17 years ago...

Joey

I saw it on TV recently too... and also have the DVD since... and I got to say, as with ALL of Carpenter's movies, you do a disservice to yourself to form too solid of an opinion on them based on redacted, squashed TV versions. they can still be enjoyable on TV and I'm glad they do get aired, but... if ever there was a genre filmmaker who really revels in uncensored widescreen, it's JC

[Fatboy Roberts]

I believe this movie is, by far, the worst of John Carpenter's works. It's a self-absorbed, delusional, suspenseless mess. The fright scenes aren't frightening, the acting is below sub-par, and the psychobabble technotalk gobbledegook so totally overruns the script that even when you do manage to struggle past the strained "Deep thoughts" falling out of every other characters mouth (Except Dennis Dun's, he gets every terrible one-liner Carpenters coke-addled mind spit out onto the typewriter) you don't give a shit about the "tension" and "creepiness" that's supposed to be going on.

Cockroaches eating someone from the inside out sounds like a cool idea--until you see the execution.
Alice Cooper as a homicidal bum sounds cool--until you see the execution. Death by sharpened bike frame just isn't as cool as it sounds.
Being posessed by satan sounds cool--until you realize Satan is a giant blender filled with limeaid, and people are possessed by spritzing said limeaid directly into people's open mouths.

No character in this movie has any depth at all, none of their decisions make any sense, and the only thing that actually DOES work in the movie are the dreamed videotape transmissions from satan. It's a cool concept, completely run into the bottom of the portapotty with a crap script and bad actors sleepwalking through it. It's as if Carpenter forgot how to block a scene, shoot it nicely, and make it move. This movie just sits there, mouth open, waiting for someone to spill some limeaid into it.

[Floydian Trip]

The cockroach scene is one of Carpenters best kills, imo.

[Chris Allen]

I believe this movie is, by far, the worst of John Carpenter's works. It's a self-absorbed, delusional, suspenseless mess. I respect your opinion on this, and you make good points about the execution on PoD.

But really?? The worst of all his works?? JC has made quite a few messes, and I think Ghosts of Mars tops the list in every aspect. Take every fault you find with PoD, and each one pales in comparison with the ridiculously stupid GoM. The flashbacks were horribly executed, and the design of the main ghost dude makes Alice Cooper as a bad guy look like Darth Vader. These are but a few unbelievable bad ideas that can be found in this movie.

To call PoD the worst of JC movies by far is reaching a little, when there are quite a few of his that are at least as bad, if not much worse.

[Fatboy Roberts]

You make a good point, but it seemed to me that while Ghosts of Mars did suck..at least it sucked Carpenter-style. Not much of a defense, I know, but at least I could still see Carpenter fingerprints on it. "Prince of Darkness" was written under a pseudonym, the screenplay ate balls and his direction was indiscernable from any run of the mill TV-Movie Hack. Ghosts of Mars was awful, yes, but it managed to retain a modicum of Carpenter style. Prince of Darkness was just terrible on all counts.

[Chris Allen]

... but it seemed to me that while Ghosts of Mars did suck..at least it sucked Carpenter-style. ...I think that quote may sum up the reason this thread has become so long. After Halloween, has there been any JC movie that at least in some way has not had an aspect of suckiness to it?? Even though movies like Big Trouble and They Live are fan favorites, they still had their issues of suckiness that prevented them from being "successful" movies, in a $$$ aspect.

I'd have to say I've been mostly disappointed with most of his movies (after Big Trouble), though I am always entertained by them (except GoM. That was 100% concentrated shit.).

[zombiesdontrun]

I believe this movie is, by far, the worst of John Carpenter's works. It's a self-absorbed, delusional, suspenseless mess. The fright scenes aren't frightening, the acting is below sub-par, and the psychobabble technotalk gobbledegook so totally overruns the script that even when you do manage to struggle past the strained "Deep thoughts" falling out of every other characters mouth (Except Dennis Dun's, he gets every terrible one-liner Carpenters coke-addled mind spit out onto the typewriter) you don't give a shit about the "tension" and "creepiness" that's supposed to be going on.

Cockroaches eating someone from the inside out sounds like a cool idea--until you see the execution.
Alice Cooper as a homicidal bum sounds cool--until you see the execution. Death by sharpened bike frame just isn't as cool as it sounds.
Being posessed by satan sounds cool--until you realize Satan is a giant blender filled with limeaid, and people are possessed by spritzing said limeaid directly into people's open mouths.

No character in this movie has any depth at all, none of their decisions make any sense, and the only thing that actually DOES work in the movie are the dreamed videotape transmissions from satan. It's a cool concept, completely run into the bottom of the portapotty with a crap script and bad actors sleepwalking through it. It's as if Carpenter forgot how to block a scene, shoot it nicely, and make it move. This movie just sits there, mouth open, waiting for someone to spill some limeaid into it.




Have you checked out Badboys 2?

[Domingo]

I think that quote may sum up the reason this thread has become so long. After Halloween, has there been any JC movie that at least in some way has not had an aspect of suckiness to it?? Even though movies like Big Trouble and They Live are fan favorites, they still had their issues of suckiness that prevented them from being "successful" movies, in a $$$ aspect.

I'd have to say I've been mostly disappointed with most of his movies (after Big Trouble), though I am always entertained by them (except GoM. That was 100% concentrated shit.).



The Thing. Personal favorite and in my opinion very close to the perfect horror/sci fi film. Kind of like Alien.



Domingo'

[Fatboy Roberts]

I agree. Over time, I've come to see 'The Thing' as a superior movie to Halloween in every way, not to crap on Halloween, because it's classic.

I also liked Starman, which is a forgotten film in Carpenter's filmography, in that I hardly ever see it mentioned. As well as Christine, which I thought was way better than The Fog.

[EOD]

I've never understood the appeal of Prince of Darkness, or for that matter, In the Mouth of Madness. I don't find them scary or suspenseful or even good.

The Thing is a masterpiece in my view, so is Halloween. I loved The Fog, Escape from New York, They Live, and Assault on Precinct 13 also.


Ghosts of Mars......baked ass. I was waiting for Ice Cube to say "Got a smoke?"



EOD

[cfMC]

when I saw Prince of Darkness in the theaters, I didn't like it all, because it didn't make obvious sense with the goofy dialog, and Dunn's acting especially grated on me. I wasn't down with atmosphere ruling the day. I needed a bit less suspension of disbelief.

however in watching it several times since--and especially recently on DVD--I think it a great horror movie, classic Carpenter throwing all sorts of genre elements together, consistency or rationality be damned. all those Cooper bums milling about like zombies... the mad scientist braniac dialog... the 80s party funboy comic relief... Pleasance hamboning it up... etc. I love this kind of shit, actually.

I haven't seen Starman or the chevey chase movie, but beyond that, there isn't a full-length John Carpenter genre picture that I don't think of as well worth watching. each one is like a phone number on a bathroom wall--call it for a good time. the man is a genius at campy B movie throwbacks. Ghosts Of Mars is a lot of fun IMO.

[Chris Allen]

Saw this today on rogerebert.com, by J. Emerson

Four underappreciated scary movies on DVD (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041014/ESSAYS/41014002)

exceprt - "And then there's this: The nightmarish visuals of "Prince of Darkness" are not as downright bone-chilling as, say, the stuff in Wes Craven's original "A Nightmare of Elm Street," but they're comparably imaginative and memorable -- images that seem to rise up out of the chasms of the subconscious: worms that writhe in clumps on window panes; a crucified pigeon; a sinister liquid that pools ... on the ceiling, and spews into the eye-sockets, nose, and mouth of a sleeping woman; hazy, haunting "dreams" that are really video transmissions from Beyond, broadcast directly to the characters' sleeping subconsciousnesses; a talking corpse crawling with insects as it crumbles into pieces... With its wall-to-wall throbbing electronic score escalating the tension, "Prince of Darkness" plays like a synthesized symphony for the devil ... in the tiniest details, the most minute and invisible cracks and crevices of reality."

How timely for this thread.

[zombiesdontrun]

Saw this today on rogerebert.com, by J. Emerson

Four underappreciated scary movies on DVD (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041014/ESSAYS/41014002)

exceprt - "And then there's this: The nightmarish visuals of "Prince of Darkness" are not as downright bone-chilling as, say, the stuff in Wes Craven's original "A Nightmare of Elm Street," .



Nightmare on elm street couldn't hold shit to Prince of Darkness.

[Rufus Rockefeller XIII]

Can't believe I didn't see this thread before, this movie is one of my favorites.

Everything just comes together so perfectly that I'm really suprised it didn't find an audience. My guess is that the whole physics aspect and Lovecraftian style stuff put people off. For those who compared it to japanese horror, I'd have to agree, alot of the scenes have a very ominous feel that you don't see much in American cinema.

Probably my favorite part is when the asian dude is trapped and they're trying to chip down the wall before the zombies get to him, perfectly captures the sense of panic a person would have.

[Jack19]

Saw this today on rogerebert.com, by J. Emerson

Four underappreciated scary movies on DVD (http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041014/ESSAYS/41014002)

I liked that article and the author seems to have intelligent opinions about horror movies (which many critics don't) but I had to laugh when he called the DoD remake gorier then the original.

[Sethos]

I don't think Prince of Darkness was that scary, but the ending did make me feel very bad. the shot of the woman being trapped on the other side of the mirror... I like bleak stuff like that.

[Iron Maiden]

I always enjoyed this movie. It's certainly not Carpenter's best film, but I love the tension in the first half of the film. I had so many scenarios running through my head during that first 45 minutes or so as to what was going to happen. The second half was a let down the first time I viewed it because my expectations were just shot way up by a great beginning. I think I was expecting some sort of balls-to-the-wall encounter with Satan. Unfortunately, we didn't get that, which upsetted me initially. I viewed it again, though, a few years later with lowered expectations and found myself really liking the second half. It's pretty scary and who doesn't love that ending? I know it's already been stated, but I also love how a small, old church became the center of the battle between good and evil. Older churches can be very creepy, and I think that helped immensly with the atmosphere.

[Abbott & Prospero]

This film was all about the 'stache.

[Werbal_Kint]

This film was all about the 'stache.

Truly the most terrifying aspect of the film.

[BigHeadTooler]

Personally, I really liked this movie. But let's get past the "I Love" or "I Hate" part of this thread. What did ya'll think of the ending? What is your take on it? Did the chick get stuck on the other side of the mirror in the Satan-universe? Or does she come back in the future and send a message saying that she returns? Stuff like that, tell me what ya think!

[billylove]

This film was all about the 'stache.


True.

And Egg Shen. Who badly needed his bag of demons.

[BATTY [Roy]]

What did ya'll think of the ending? What is your take on it? Did the chick get stuck on the other side of the mirror in the Satan-universe? Or does she come back in the future and send a message saying that she returns? Stuff like that, tell me what ya think!
I think that:

A.) she does get stuck beyond the mirror in the "Sataniverse".

B.) In the future (without the 'Super College Science Squad®' to save the day), she emerges from the church, as the physical embodiment of Satan. I say this because if you watch the dream transmissions throughout the movie, the figure walking out of the church is this 15 ft. tall, long-armed looking "thing"; but at the end, the broadcast has changed to show her, acting all ominous-omg-scary.

My question is (assuming I'm right about ^THAT^), why did he receive the transmission at his house? Wasn't the premise that, due to the future guys projecting a tachyon beam into space exactly where the church was in the past, that the signal would be picked up by a sleeping person at the church?


In other news, I refuse to acknowledge the OTHER version, that has added random scenes of Simon&Simon guy sleeping; presumably to raise the possibility that the ENTIRE MOVIE WAS NOTHING MORE THAN A FILTHY FIGMENT OF HIS DISEASED IMAGINATION. /Haunted Honeymoon

[Ah, Alucard]

My favourite explanation of the ending, one I only read very recently, was that it was Catherine coming out of the church the whole time. That THAT was what we were being warned about all along, the dream coming to a climax too late, (possibly due to miscalculation?) for us to do anything about it.

To be honest I forget what the 'ominous shape' looks like, pre-Catherine revelation (and I'd be way too scared to fire up the DVD to check) but I do really like that explanation all the same.


And regarding Brian dreaming the dream at his house, doesn't Father Loomis say at one point about how it "pushes other dreams out" and that people exposed to it will eventually have it "every time [they] go to sleep"?

[Hair-Metal Hero]

this movie still creeps the hell outta me, as much as I love The Thing, this just edges that out in the creepiness factor.

[BATTY [Roy]]

My favourite explanation of the ending, one I only read very recently, was that it was Catherine coming out of the church the whole time. That THAT was what we were being warned about all along, the dream coming to a climax too late, (possibly due to miscalculation?) for us to do anything about it.

To be honest I forget what the 'ominous shape' looks like, pre-Catherine revelation (and I'd be way too scared to fire up the DVD to check) but I do really like that explanation all the same.


And regarding Brian dreaming the dream at his house, doesn't Father Loomis say at one point about how it "pushes other dreams out" and that people exposed to it will eventually have it "every time [they] go to sleep"?
Hmmm, I don't mind that explanation, but for me, it doesn't explain the difference in appearance in the transmissions. I will now offer screencaps to ponder.

The first 2 pix are from the dream sequence mid-film:
http://www.anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.liquidservers.com/www/jbzorg/images/pod01.jpghttp://www.anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.liquidservers.com/www/jbzorg/images/pod02.jpg

Now, these are from Brian's dream at the end:
http://www.anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.liquidservers.com/www/jbzorg/images/pod03.jpghttp://www.anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.liquidservers.com/www/jbzorg/images/pod04.jpg

So what do you think now? I'm interested in hearing any & all opinions about this too, BTW...

[Ah, Alucard]

Yes, there's no question that they're completely different entities. What a shame.

I suppose this means I revert back to pretty much what you said in your 'B' reading - that Catherine is the new 'Anti-God', or at least her form is the one being used, as opposed to whoever it was originally.

I say this simply because the warning is still being sent - if she'd stopped it, or if she'd escaped, in the year 1999 (and how come we didn't have tachyon stream beaming video technology five years ago?) - then presumably there would be no need to send such a warning message at all.

Poor girl. I guess that's what spending 12 years stuck in a mirror does to you.

[Andrew Clarke]

Ah, even if the rest of the film were total GOM then those shots still guarantees Prince of Darkness a place in horror history. that shakey, fake news footage predates Blair Witch's style of verite by a decade and is still way creepier. DJ Shadow used the message as a sample to fantastic effect on his first album too.

yay!

[BATTY [Roy]]

Ah, even if the rest of the film were total GOM then those shots still guarantees Prince of Darkness a place in horror history. that shakey, fake news footage predates Blair Witch's style of verite by a decade and is still way creepier. DJ Shadow used the message as a sample to fantastic effect on his first album too.

yay!
Name of album & track plzkthnx?

[Andrew Clarke]

the albums called 'entroducing...DJ Shadow' and it has three 'transmissions' dotted throughout it, accurately mirroring the film. the album is great too - dance music that guitar music fans can enjoy. and horror fans of course.

[BATTY [Roy]]

I was surfing today & came across this review (http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/prince-of-darkness/default.php). It made me lol a few times. Worth the read.

[billylove]

']I was surfing today & came across this review (http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/prince-of-darkness/default.php). It made me lol a few times. Worth the read.

Yeah, that guy has funny reviews.

[Ah, Alucard]

Excellent review. I loved all the animated gifs.

It also reminded me of one of what I consider the scariest moments in the film -- when Wyndham leaves the church, and he sees Susan, and the other guys, and then that horrible old bitch fucking glides along with her pair of scissors and stabs the shit out of him. Just that quick shot of the sliding, held-aloft scissors really freaks me out.

[BATTY [Roy]]

Just that quick shot of the sliding, held-aloft scissors really freaks me out.

http://www.anonymouse.ws/cgi-bin/anon-www.cgi/http://www.liquidservers.com/www/jbzorg/images/podstab4.gif

[Ah, Alucard]

That wasn't very nice!


And now I'm seriously considering watching it again.

[BATTY [Roy]]

That wasn't very nice!


And now I'm seriously considering watching it again.
Then my evil work here is done.

*places hand on hips, tilts head back, laughs maniacally*

[Greg Hansen]

I suppose this means I revert back to pretty much what you said in your 'B' reading - that Catherine is the new 'Anti-God', or at least her form is the one being used, as opposed to whoever it was originally.

I say this simply because the warning is still being sent - if she'd stopped it, or if she'd escaped, in the year 1999 (and how come we didn't have tachyon stream beaming video technology five years ago?) - then presumably there would be no need to send such a warning message at all.

Poor girl. I guess that's what spending 12 years stuck in a mirror does to you.

That was always my take on it.

As for the question of tachyon stream beaming video technology... Don't be naive. The government's been hiding technologies like that from the general public for years.

[bobshope]

It was pretty good and had some genuinely good scares, but the ending was a let down.

[Ah, Alucard]

It is kind of anti-climatic, I agree, but at the same time I do like what I now realise is a quite Lovecraftian feel to the conclusion. That we didn't 'win', but instead merely postponed the inevitable cataclysm. It just helps add to the horrible feeling of human insignificance, powerlessness and cosmic unfairness that pervades the film.

[newbie newbster]

I always saw it as the original dream with the big satin was what came out of the church in 1999 they sent the warning back and when it was recieved things changed. which is why when the video is beemed back again Catherine is leaving. I think its a big downer because no matter what warning they give the events gonna happen anyways all they do is change the face

[Andrew Clarke]

Change the face...
Change the face...?
Oh dear lord please don't leave me hanging - what's the end of the sentence!

Please, from the bottom of my heart, Newbie Newbster, please use syntax. It is your friend and stops my brain melting.

[newbie newbster]

yea yea I know. on the other hand I would like you to take the 12 pack of heiny I drank into consideraton.

[Andrew Clarke]

Duly taken into consideration Newbie, carry on, and i'm now very impressed by how coherent you were. maybe i'll write a post after my halloween party tonight, see how bad i do.

[Ah, Alucard]

One thing I always wondered about was the actual nature of the event that was filmed and then sent back through time.

Was that just some guy with his camcorder running past the church who happened to capture that footage at the time? Did people know somehow - were they warned, or told in some way?

Or did Anti-god just come out of the church at the same time every day just to raise his arms, and they got it on camera that way?

[BATTY [Roy]]

When I first saw it, my thought was that it was filmed by one of several scientists, that were investigating some strange incidents at the church. Then later, as whatever apocalypse was occuring, they thought up & implemented the tachyon message.

But as an adult, I have doubts about this theory, as scientists from the future (1999OMG), investigating something like this, would've likely had more high-tech surveillence equipment set up, not just a shitty, running, hand-held, camcorder oh-shit-there-it-is-there-it-is clip.

*shrugs*

[SmokeEater]

I figured the scientists from the movie sent the message to themselves, as afterwards, they figure out that the AntiGod will be coming back somehow and the only chance to stop it is send a tachyon message and hope the receivers act upon it. Which is what they spend the time they've got left doing.

They get one chance to capture the AntiGod on videotape(AntiGod provides the distortion) and then they become its first victims...

[newbie newbster]

I always figured the quality was bad due to it being sent threw time.

[Abbott & Prospero]

Yes, it was a warning broadcast from the year 1-9-9-9, but we didn't figure it out in time to do anything about it...

[JudgeSmails]

Ah, I love this movie. Just thinking about it gives me the creeps. I still think this is one of the most entertaining, scary as hell and atmospheric horror movies ever made. Just thinking of the tachyon emission is giving me goose bumps. Going to pop this DVD in over the weekend and scare the hell out of my wife.