The Prophecy - 1995

First Look International, NEO Motion Pictures, Overseas FilmGroup

Written and Directed by Gregory Widen

Cast:

• Thomas Dagget – Elias Koteas
• Gabriel – Christopher Walken
• Katherine – Virginia Madsen
• Simon – Eric Stoltz
• Lucifer – Viggo Mortensen
• Jerry – Adam Goldberg
• Mary – Moriah “Shining Dove” Snyder
• Rachel – Amanda Plummer
• Joseph – Steve Hytner

Story: A young man is about to become a priest. He prostrates himself before the cardinal, is prepared to say his vows, but suddenly a vision comes over him, a vision so bleak and full of despair, he cannot continue. Flash forward several years to this same young man, now a Los Angeles police officer, who is called to a murder scene normally off his shift. A man has been run over by a car in an alley and smashed into a wall. In the room the man has jumped, or was pushed, from, is a copy of a book written by Thomas Dagget, the police officer who wanted to be a priest. The coroner informs Dagget of some irregularities with the body. He has no, nor has ever had, eyes. His bones have no indication of growth. And in his possessions is a hand written Bible with an extra chapter that refers to a second war in heaven. Soon Dagget discovers he is caught in the crossfire in a war between angels over the right of man to be in heaven.

Review: After his incredible success with the Highlander franchise, Gregory Widen wrote and directed this incredible eerie tale of suspense and horror. The characters are crisp and fresh, and the cast depicts them with an eerie sense of reality. Elias Koteas is incredibly adept at his role, portraying the disillusioned Dagget with a humanity we can all associate with. Eric Stoltz is adept at his role as Simon, the angel from the forces loyal to God's will concerning man. Christopher Walken is the perfect Gabriel, smiling and deceptive, treating us “talking monkeys” with the same sort of casual disdain as one may treat a retarded child. Virginia Madsen plays the lone teacher for what remains of an abandoned mining town, and she portrays the role in such a manner as to have us believing she has taught school for years. While the remainder of the cast is proficient and talented in their roles, special mention has to be made of Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer. He delivers his lines with such precision of depth and directness, you can believe he is the devil incarnate. Rated R for violence, gore and language, this is truly a work of art. Collectible as the first in a series of five films, or by itself as just an incredible work of fiction and the imagination of Gregory Widen.