THE PROPHECY 3: THE ASCENT

US, 2000, 84 minutes. Colour.
Christopher Walken, Vincent Spano, Dave Buzzotta, Kayren Butler, Steve Heitner, Brad Douriff, Scott Clevedon, Jack Mc Gee.
Directed by Patrick Lassier.

Prophecy 3, as the name suggests, is the third of a trilogy with characters created by Gregory Weiden who directed the earlier films. This is the first feature film directed by Patrick Lassier, long-time editor, especially of the films of Wes Craven. He was soon to make the Dracula trilogy, go on to make My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry.

The film focuses on Danyael (Dave Buzzotta) who is half-angel, half-human and leads a group in denouncing God. He is assassinated by a zealot played by Brad Douriff. However, he is resurrected in the morgue, finds that he has a destiny, to confront the powers of evil, especially Zophael who wants to reverse the sides in the war against good and evil, angels and demons, as well as Pyriel, the Angel of Genocide. Vincent Spano stands out as Zophael.

However, each film has Christopher Walken – a bit different from the rest of the characters in the films. He plays Gabriel, who in the second film has become human. In the third film he is very much a Christopher Walken character, wisecracks, an earthiness that does not suggest anything of Heaven. As a human, he walks the earth, a kind of guardian angel to Danyael, helping him to his destiny – and glad that he is human, wanting to stay human because he has a driving licence.

The film is partly tongue-in-cheek – but treats the rest of the story in a most straightforward way, all the more successful for that, bringing a rather B-grade but interesting trilogy to a close.

1. The Prophecy trilogy? Audience interest in the clashes between angels and demons? The archangel characters? The fictitious? In the human context?

2. The title, The Ascent, Danyael and his mission, his achievement?

3. The American city, the sinister aspects, the religious rally hall, the dark streets, the police precincts? The musical score?

4. The introduction to Danyael, his speech to the crowd, audiences thinking he was on the side of God, his change, denouncing God? Maggie and her egging the people on, love for him?

5. The zealot, his glasses, sinister? His shooting Danyael? Danyael taken away, Maggie bespattered with blood, at the police station? The morgue? The police interrogations?

6. Gabriel, Christopher Walken and his appearance, style, comments? His going to the rally? His watching over Danyael? Going to the police station, the comic interview? His avoiding giving his identity – and the stories about the driver’s licence...? His continued concern, following Danyael, advising him, protecting him? The confrontation with Zophael? With Pyriel? His staying as a human – and the comments about the driving licence? Seeing him drive, not effectually?

7. Zophael, his arrival on Earth, his relentless walking through the streets, his pursuit of Danyael, the confrontation with Gabriel and their discussion about what had happened, the restoration of the peace? The failure? His stalking Danyael, the reasons for his wanting to defeat him, the fight to the death?

8. Pyriel? Genocide? His sinister presence? The final confrontation?

9. The doctor, his knowledge of the past, his concern about Danyael? Looking at the symbols and the tattoos? Reading the books? His having to let Danyael go?

10. The pursuit, the angels and their fights, Gabriel and his protection? The apocalyptic aspect of the final confrontation?

11. The year 2000, the release of the film, the popularity of this kind of apocalyptic story at the end of the 20th century?