Prophecy, The MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -2 1/2

Thomas Daggett (Elias Koteas) is about to be ordained a priest when he gets a terrifying vision of angels dying on a bloody battlefield. His faith shattered, he opts to become a disillusioned New York policeman instead. He is visited by Simon (Eric Stoltz), a "good" angel on a mission to save mankind from the wrath of "bad" angel Gabriel (Christopher Walken). Gabriel and some other angels are jealous that God has favored man over them, to the point of giving man a soul and a Savior. Gabriel is looking for a human soul to take, which will somehow cause the fall of mankind. Simon has hidden the soul that Gabriel wants, that of an evil and disgraced Army officer, in the body of a young Native American girl in Arizona. The battle moves to Arizona where Daggett, Simon, Gabriel, and the girl's teacher (Virginia Madsen) fight for the future of mankind. Also on the scene to lend a hand is Lucifer in a cameo role. Direction for THE PROPHECY is overdone, and the characters are wooden and trite. There's no one to care about and no motivation to become involved, all of which leads to a very unsatisfying movie experience.

THE PROPHECY's R rating stems from several obscenities and regular profanities spoken, plus graphic bloody violence. The "bad" angel attempts to rip out a man's heart, and later Lucifer rips out Gabriel's heart and eats it. The other killings and shootings pale in comparison to these sadistic actions. The film's theology, or lack thereof, is also a detractor. In today's films, Scripture often gets lost or quoted out of context to support dramatic license. Another prevalent trend is to concoct a "spiritual trail mix" with different theologies, picking and choosing what works from each one. THE PROPHECY is guilty of these offenses. While Biblical scholar moviegoers may discern the truth, the intended audience of this kind of film will not be grounded enough to see the subtle lies for what they are. On a positive note, good does triumph over evil, and there is no sexual content. However, the negatives far outweigh the positives of THE PROPHECY.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: Miramax Films, 375 Greenwich, NY, NY 10013