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    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - P 2 Mins Read

    Prince of Darkness (1987)

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    Although he never enjoyed much commercial success during the 80s, many of John Carpenter’s films have garnered cult status over the years.

    Prince of Darkness is definitely a horror film – and Carpenter’s genre mastery is clear – but he’s also striving for something much more ambitious here. Some might argue that the budget just couldn’t match the ambition.

    The most unique story element is the curious union of science and religion which comes about in order to understand and explain a mysterious liquid cylinder of ancient origin.

    Donald Pleasance and Victor Wong are the highlights of the film, playing the priest and physicist, respectively. They’re at their most captivating when they have ideological debates in the midst of the creeping dread.

    Most of the film is set in a Los Angeles church, giving a claustrophobic feel that adds to the tension. The slow-paced direction of the plot also gives an unease that the dread is slow yet inevitable.

    Carpenter is a master of the anamorphic aspect ratio, creating interesting compositions with his cinematographer. Wide-angle shots used in the format help build the horror – For example, there is a moment where a character is approaching the cylinder. Due to the wide-angle frame, your eyes naturally scan the frame to see where the scare could come from. When the viewer thinks nothing will come . . . boom, it catches you off guard.

    There are gruesome moments of body horror when a character becomes infected by the liquid, causing her to swell up and her skin to decay.

    Finally, the ambiguous closing shot gives the audience something to think about.

    Priest
    Donald Pleasence
    Brian Marsh
    Jameson Parker
    Professor Howard Birack
    Victor Wong
    Catherine Danforth
    Lisa Blount
    Walter
    Dennis Dun
    Kelly
    Susan Blanchard
    Susan Cabot
    Anne Marie Howard
    Lisa
    Ann Yen
    Lomax
    Ken Wright
    Mullins
    Dirk Blocker
    Calder
    Jessie Lawrence Ferguson
    Dr Paul Leahy
    Peter Jason
    Frank Wyndham
    Robert Grasmere
    Etchinson
    Thom Bray
    Bag Lady
    Joanna Merlin

    Director
    John Carpenter

     

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