Viggo Mortensen in The Prophecy

Release: 1995

Director: Gregory Widen
Writer(s): Gregory Widen

Runtime: 98 min

MCAA Rating: R for violence and gore, and for some language

Websites:
IMDb
Open Directory

View movie on new
Brego website

The Prophecy Cast and Crew

Viggo Mortensen: Lucifer

Other leading roles:
Christopher Walken, Gabriel
Elias Koteas, Thomas Daggett
Virginia Madsen, Katherine
Eric Stoltz, Simon
Amanda Plummer, Rachael

The Prophecy Synopsis

The angel Gabriel comes to Earth to collect a soul which will end the stalemated war in Heaven, and only a former priest and a little girl can stop him.

The Prophecy Brief Review

From Amazon.com: A prime candidate for cult status (it even spawned a sequel), this apocalyptic 1995 horror flick belongs in the darker corners of the comedy-horror sub-genre that includes Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mimic, and Phantoms--and like those movies it's a mixed blessing with some highlights worth savoring.

This one's got Christopher Walken in its favor, starring as the Angel Gabriel, who's really mad at God for allowing humans into heaven (because, you see, humans have souls and angels don't, and God plays favorites). Gabriel takes his anger out on the human race, coming to Earth to capture the soul of the most evil human alive in an effort to defeat the "good" angels that remain in God's good graces. One of the good angels is played by Eric Stoltz, who captures the evil soul before Walken does and transfers it into the body of a little girl. Are you with us so far? Don't worry if you're not, because writer-director Gregory Widen filled The Prophecy with so many wild ideas that he didn't bother to connect them to a coherent plot.

Add Viggo Mortensen as the devil and Elias Koteas as a priest-turned detective who's tracking Walken and it's clear that Widen was attempting something ambitious here. He nearly succeeded, since The Prophecy jumpstarts its heaven-and-hell rivalry with enough action, humor, and intelligence to make the movie sufficiently entertaining. It was enjoyable enough to entice Walken back for the sequel, so if you're into this kind of thing, this one's a keeper. --Jeff Shannon

The Prophecy Articles & Interviews

Viggo Mortensen: A very devilish Devil in "The Prophecy" - August 9, 1995
Viggo discusses his role in The Prophecy and his reasons for taking the part. [Chronicles] [Viggo-Works]

The Fire That Fuels an Artist's Heart - Carpe Noctem #15, March 1999
Viggo comments on most of his pre-1999 movies, including Prison, Leatherface, Reflecting Skin, Indian Runner, Crimson Tide, The Prophecy, G.I. Jane, A Perfect Murder, Psycho, and the upcoming Walk on the Moon (tentatively titled The Blouse Man). He also discusses his art and upcoming showings. Finally, when asked, "In twenty years, would you rather be remembered as an actor who painted or a painter who acted?" he replies, ""I'd like to know that I was honest. I was myself as far as just being an artist and being an actor or poet or photographer or painter or whatever the hell. A pebble stacker, whatever the hell you end up doing, that's art. Being an artist is being an artist. So just be. If you only do acting, you're still an artist. I'd just like to know that I actually challenged myself." [Brego.net]

His Occult Fellowship - Fangoria #208, November 2001
Extensive interview in which Viggo Mortensen talks about how he views Aragorn's character, the filming of Fellowship of the Ring, The Prophecy, Leatherface and other earlier films. [Viggo-Works] [scans at TORN] [Brego.net]

Prophecy Resources

Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel: The Prophecy - Scans of an in-depth six-page review of The Prophecy by Rob Fraser, published in the book Christopher Walken: Movie Top Ten. The reviewer calls the film "a rare and blessed thing, a dumb movie that makes its audience feel smart." Viggo Mortensen is referred to as "an acknowledged Method tough guy, noted for his sleazy turns in Carlito's Way and Sean Penn's Indian Runner," who "plays every scene straight as though [his] immortal soul depended upon it." Otherwise the review focuses primarily on Walken's performance, the movie's premise, and how it has been perceived by religious groups.

Rob's Reviews: Prophecy - Curmudgeonly reviewer Rob Gonsalves loves Christopher Walken and tries to like Prophecy but fails. "I like to think that Walken flipped through the script, realized how lame it is, and decided to have some fun anyway. He's the only reason not to nod off." Viggo is mentioned: "by the time Viggo Mortensen turns up as Satan, all atwinkle at his own evil wit, it's too little too late".

The Prophecy - Richard Clabaugh, one of two Directors of Photography for The Prophecy, provides details and interesting insights on the cinematography and production of the film. Illustrated with good stills.

Walken Works: The Prophecy - Christopher Walken fan provides an extensive site exploring The Prophecy trilogy, including commentary on the films and DVDs, photographs and links. "The films themselves are interesting, thought provoking and challenging and feature outstanding and complex performances by Walken. Other performances, particularly in the first film (Viggo Mortensen springs to mind) are also very good."

Prophecy Video Clips

In the strange world of The Prophecy, Viggo Mortensen plays Lucifer as petty and impetuous, arrogant and superior one minute and losing himself to blood lust and jealousy the next.

Warning: as the descriptions note, some of the clips are a bit gory.

pro-03: We must talk «11-May-05» - Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) appears to Katherine (Virginia Madsen), stating that they must talk. When she backs off, he quietly threatens her, "I can lay you out and fill your mouth with your mother's feces, or we can talk."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'23, 2.8MB)

pro-04: First angel «11-May-05» - When Katherine (Virginia Madsen) asks Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) whether he is an angel, he answers, "I am the first angel, loved once above all others. A perfect love." He then sings cynically, "But like all true love, one day it withered on the vine."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'18, 2.6MB)

pro-08: Yellow rose «11-May-05» - As he methodically strips a yellow rose of its petals, Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) explains the heavenly battle to Katherine (Virginia Madsen), beginning, "Gabriel has a plan. Humans (and how I love you talking monkeys for this) know more about war and treachery of the spirit than any angel."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'47, 6.9MB)

pro-10: Little Tommy Daggett «15-May-05» - Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) works his persuasive abilities on Thomas Daggett (Elias Koteas). "Little Tommy Daggett. How I loved listening to your sweet prayers every night, so afraid I was under there.... And I was!"

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'43, 8.4MB)

pro-14: Native tongue «16-May-05» - In a strange precursor to Hidalgo, Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer speaks in a Native American tongue at the medicine ceremony.

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'10, 1.3MB)

pro-15: Lucifer confronts Gabriel «16-May-05» - Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) confronts Gabriel (Christopher Walken) after licking the blood from his wounded forehead. Gabriel warns him away, saying, "This war is mine." Lucifer replies, "Your war is arrogance. That makes it evil. And that's mine."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'17, 2.2MB)

pro-20: Eating the heart «16-May-05» - If you're squeamish you may want to pretend that it's chocolate sauce instead of blood. Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) eats Gabriel's bloody heart, then bleats his satisfaction.

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'11, 1.6MB)

pro-22: It's done «16-May-05» - Thomas (Elias Koteas) tells Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) that the war is over and it's time for him to leave. Lucifer tries to convince Thomas and Katherine (Virginia Madsen) to come with him. "I love you. I love you more than Jesus," he pleads. When that ploy fails, he threatens Katherine: "You owe me one. You're going to ask me to take me home...because anything else will be worse than you ever imagined it."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'26, 4.8MB)

pro-24: Leave the light on «16-May-05» - In parting, Lucifer (Viggo Mortensen) delivers the quietly threatening line to Thomas (Elias Koteas): "Leave the light on, Thomas."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'04, 768KB)

Prophecy: More Video Clips

This is a first for Brego.net -- I enjoyed the performances of Christopher Walken, Amanda Plummer, and the actors so much that I just had to capture a few clips of their performances.

pro-w-03: That dent in your top lip «10-May-05» - Gabriel (Christopher Walken) to Thomas Daggett (Elias Koteas): "You know how you got that dent in your top lip? Way back, before you were born, I told you a secret. Then I put my finger there and I said, 'Shh.'"

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'18, 2.8MB)

pro-w-05: Trumpet «10-May-05» - Gabriel (Christopher Walken) shows a young boy how to blow his special celestial trumpet. When the sound shatters the school window, Gabriel tells the lad, "Very good!"

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'12, 2.6MB)

pro-w-06: Talking to the kids «10-May-05» - Confronted by the children's teacher (Virginia Madsen), Gabriel (Christopher Walken) tells the kids to "study your math... key to the universe."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'20, 4.1MB)

pro-w-07: You have no idea «10-May-05» - An irritated Gabriel (Christopher Walken) tells Katherine, "You have no idea what's going on."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'07, 1.4MB)

pro-w-10: Profanity «10-May-05» - When Thomas (Elias Koteas) takes the Lord's name in vain, Gabriel (Christopher Walken) chides him, "You're gonna have to watch it with that profanity."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'03, 580KB)

pro-w-14: Why? «12-May-05» - When Katherine (Virginia Madsen) asks Gabriel (Christopher Walken) why he is attacking a child, he replies, "I'm an angel. I kill first-borns while their mamas watch. I turn cities into salt. I even, when I feel like it, rip the souls from little girls and from now until kingdom come, the only thing you can count on in your existence is never understanding why."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'19, 2.3MB)

pro-w-16: Gabriel, Rachel & Madge «10-May-05» - Because he cannot drive a car, Gabriel (Christopher Walken) has temporarily turned Rachel (Amanda Plummer) into a zombie at the moment of her death so that she can serve as his chauffeur. In this scene, they have stopped at a roadside diner to ask the waitress, Madge (Sandra Lafferty), for directions. Rachel is having trouble handling the transition from hospital to living dead, and refuses to go on with Gabriel. He replies, "Eternity, here, in that sagging skin suit, or one more day with me." When she asks why, he replies, "Can't drive. But I can wait until the stars burn out for you to make up your mind." I know this doesn't sound funny but Walken, Lafferty and Plummer are perfect and it cracks me up every time.

Quicktime video 320x240 (01'17, 13.3MB)

pro-w-17: Doesn't talk «10-May-05» - Thomas Daggett (Elias Koteas) asks Gabriel (Christopher Walken), "Why don't you just ask God?" With a touching sense of loss, Gabriel replies, "Because he doesn't talk to me any more."

Quicktime video 320x240 (00'13, 1.4MB)

Prophecy Photo Gallery

As Lucifer in The Prophecy, Viggo Mortensen is alternately seductive and threatening.

Watch out for the "gross-out alert" on a couple of images -- avoid them if you want to avoid the sight of blood.

We must talk (630x269)	Snarl (630x269)	First Angel (630x269)
Yellow rose (630x269)	Pulling petals (630x269)	Silly rose (630x269)
Persuasion (630x269)	Closing argument (630x269)	Little Tommy Daggett (626x267)
Desert embrace (623x265)	Working on Thomas (626x267)	Advice (626x266)
Use it! (626x267)	Native tongue (626x267)	Commanding glare (626x267)
Icky lick (gross-out alert) (626x267)	Evil is mine (626x265)	Heart surgery (626x267)
Munching (gross-out alert) (626x267)	Rapture (gross-out alert) (626x267)	Come home with me (626x267)
I love you more (626x267)	You owe me one (626x267)	Ask me to take you (626x267)
You will (626x267)	Leave the light on (626x267)