PROPHECY II
US, 1998, 97 minutes, Colour.
Christopher Walken, Russell Wong, Jennifer Beals, Brittany Murphy, Eric Roberts, Glenn Danzig.
Directed by Greg Spence.
Prophecy II is the second of three films on the theme of rebellious angels leaving Heaven under the leadership of Gabriel, coming to Earth, fearing that somebody from Earth would destroy the angels? In this film, Gabriel (Christopher Walken as his usual offhand self with a touch of the sinister) confronts the angel Danyael (Russell Wong). Danyael has decided that if he mates with a human being, a promised Saviour will appear. Jennifer Beals is the human – and is the heroine in peril throughout the film, especially menaced by Gabriel. However, Gabriel uses a young would-be suicide (Brittany Murphy) to guide him through contemporary culture – especially in his lack of knowledge about computers! Eric Roberts appears (to some disadvantage) as Michael.
The film has moments of fight, moments of gore, moments of deadpan humour – building up to a climax in an alternate Garden of Eden, an abandoned warehouse and factory.
The angelology of the film and its reference to Genesis chapter 6 and the giants, the angels and their relationship with human beings is more than a little preposterous.
1.The film as a supernatural thriller? Angels and devils? Humans? Conflict? A human angelic saviour? The relationship with the Bible, Genesis 6? The more preposterous aspects of the theology, angelology?
2.The atmosphere of the city, dark and bleak, the homes, warehouses? The streets? The musical score?
3.The title, the references to the Scripture? The invention of the screenwriters?
4.Valerie, her personality, her grandmother? Her encounter with Danyael? Seduced? Her pregnancy? Going to the doctor, her grandmother’s reaction? Not believing it? Her encounter with Danyael, learning the truth? The encounters with Gabriel? Her going to the monk, finding out the prophecy? Reading the texts? The confrontations with Gabriel? Her visit to Michael? The birth of the child? The strong heroine?
5.Gabriel, Christopher Walken’s style? The background of the first film, his role as an archangel, rebellion, walking the Earth, wanting to destroy the humans? His sinister presence? Wisecracking style? His ignorance of computers? Izzy and her suicide? Keeping her alive? Her helping him with driving, with computers? Her final death? The confrontation with Michael, the fight?
6.Danyael, sympathetic, his mission? The confrontation with the messengers from Gabriel? The sexual encounter with Valerie? Supporting her? The other angels?
7.Michael, his subservient role? Leaving people to judge for themselves? His encounter with Danyael, with Valerie? With Gabriel?
8.Izzy, her boyfriend, despairing, committing suicide? His death? Her survival? Her helping Gabriel? Her dismay at what was happening? Her death?
9.The popularity of this kind of psychological and theological invention? As supernatural? As horror? The echoes of Rosemary’s Baby?
