Prophecy Limited Edition Blu-ray Review

4 star classic seventies creature feature.

From the pen of David Seltzer (The Omen, Shining Through) comes this brutal and unflinching eco-horror directed by John Frankenheimer (The Island of Dr. Moreau) and produced by Robert L. Rosen (The Crow, Spy Hard).

Originally released in 1979 it is presented here on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK as part of the Eureka Classics series.

“Sort of a Bigfoot I guess, only it’s uglier. It’s larger than a dragon and it’s got the eyes of a cat. Yeah, they’ve thrown in everything but the kitchen sink.”

Maggie (Talia Shire – Rocky, The Godfather) is a concert cellist. She is pregnant and fearful of telling her husband Rob, as he feels that the world is not a fit place in which to raise a child.

Rob (Robert Foxworth – Transformers, Falcon Crest) is a doctor working in environmental health in the ghetto, feeling frustrated at his inability to make a difference in people’s lives. Unaware of his wife’s pregnancy, when he is offered a job out of town he is happy to accept.

The job is in Maine, to complete an Environmental Protection Report on the activities of a paper mill and logging company in the forest. A group of Indians calling themselves the Original People (Opies) have blocked access, saying that they are falling ill and blaming the logging operation.

Isley (Richard Dysart – L.A. Law, The Thing) from the company takes them out there and after some initial resistance, the leader of the Opies, John Hawks (Armand Assante – Judge Dredd, Gotti) allows him in to investigate.

Together with Ramona (Victoria Racimo – Choke Canyon), they tell him of the strange deaths in the area, babies born deformed or dead and the legend of the Katahdin, a bloodthirsty killer which roams the forest.

There is more going on here than meets the eye and it is up to Rob to work out what is happening before it is too late.

“Here, everything grows big. Real big.”

Prophecy is an enjoyable horror film, scary on lots of different levels. The special effects are effective, if a little amusing in places, the giant bear does look a bit like it’s covered in strawberry jam and unfortunately doesn’t quite live up to expectations, but the main point of this film is the message.

It’s a familiar theme even now, the threat that pollution and industrial development pose to the natural world and this film makes no bones about what it’s trying to say. There were a number of environmental themed films made in the late seventies and forty years later, living in a world where these messages went largely unheeded, this film is as relevant now as it was when it was originally released.

It’s a bit over dramatic in places, with a sweeping and very loud orchestral score, but the acting is as good as you would expect from such an accomplished cast and they carry it well.

An enjoyable film, very much of it’s era and well worth adding to your collection if you enjoy a creature feature.

“There are underground tunnels beneath the frost line, to store perishables. The forest provides more food than a man could possibly need.”

Prophecy is available to buy now on Limited Edition Blu-ray.

SPECIAL BLU-RAY EDITION CONTAINS 

• Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [First Print Run of 2000 copies only] 
• 1080p presentation on Blu-ray from a High Definition transfer
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• New feature length audio commentary by Richard Harland Smith
• New feature length audio commentary by film writers Lee Gambin & Emma Westwood
• New interview with screenwriter David Seltzer
• New interview with mime artist Tom McLoughlin
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• | PLUS: A LIMITED EDITION Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing by Craig Ian Mann; and an archival interview [First Print Run of 2000 copies only] 

* All extras subject to change