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8

talisencrwSep 20, 2014

It's a shame Carpenter the director wasn't as spot-on with technique and suspense as he was with Halloween and The Thing. Some really brilliant ideas, like the shared dream, but a truckload too much symbolism and imagery--some subtlety hereIt's a shame Carpenter the director wasn't as spot-on with technique and suspense as he was with Halloween and The Thing. Some really brilliant ideas, like the shared dream, but a truckload too much symbolism and imagery--some subtlety here would have been nice. Good scoring by Carpenter, fine work by Pleasance and a nice cameo by Alice Cooper (in the soundtrack too). If it had perhaps another star or two, could be considered a classic...… Expand

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8

DirigiblePulpDec 12, 2016

The atmosphere is incredibly dense, it's an unrelenting thickness suffocating everything else, including plot, character and common sense. But man does it work and brilliantly.

The score is typically moody and great, and it's usedThe atmosphere is incredibly dense, it's an unrelenting thickness suffocating everything else, including plot, character and common sense. But man does it work and brilliantly.

The score is typically moody and great, and it's used effectively as a constantly reverberating background beat to the slow unveiling of hell on an uncoupling earth. This film works so well because it's truly unrelenting, and I don't mean in the Evil Dead sense of constant assault, but in its unbearable grip on your audio and visual senses. It's a slow strangling.

This film also made me realize how great of a stylist Carpenter is. I always knew that on some level, but watching this again for the second time I realized how casual Carpenter is in his brilliance. His shots have an off-the-cuff elegance, almost as a painter so in control of his work he doesn't have to stop and savor his great images because they all are in a way, each shot into the next, a kind of constantly evolving masterful painting of horror. Shots of crosses through fence links, zombie faces awash in black and shadow, the lighting of an Argento witches movie, the soft surrealism of water dripping upward yet slowly outward towards hell, visions of ants invading the back grating of a TV set, white light from inside calling to them.

It's kind of amazing. I really really wish the plot came together a bit more. I like the obtuseness of it to a point (how much could the characters really know about it all) but because of that a lot of the revelations come from people hypothesizing out loud in a way that you know the movie is trying to explain itself without actually having to -- having its cake and eating it too.… Expand

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9

SpangleOct 5, 2017

A master piece of midnight madness filmmaking, John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness is a film that strings you along with a plot that may not make all that much sense, but it simply does not matter. This is not a film watched for the plot, forA master piece of midnight madness filmmaking, John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness is a film that strings you along with a plot that may not make all that much sense, but it simply does not matter. This is not a film watched for the plot, for the acting, or for the dialogue (seriously, if Satan arrives and one of his first actions is typing on a computer through some woman to say, "In fact, YOU WILL NOT BE SAVED", I will bust a gut laughing), but rather for John Carpenter's ability to entertain audiences. Truly scary, ominous, deeply unsettling, and a film that makes you leery to investigate what just creaked downstairs, Prince of Darkness is a film with one hell of an atmosphere. Blessed by Carpenter's fantastic score, an engaging premise, and truly terrific scares, Prince of Darkness is a film that will leave you reeling once it is finished.

As the second entry into John Carpenter's Apocalypse trilogy with The Thing and In the Mouth of Madness, it is seemingly fitting that Prince of Darkness concerns the return of Satan to the world. However, rather than a Biblical interpretation, Carpenter has a twist on the tale. Using matter and antimatter as the basis, the world in Prince of Darkness exists in the antimatter plane of existence, with Satan existing to bring darkness in the antimatter world rather than the lightness brought by God in the matter-side. Jesus came as an extraterrestrial to warn humanity of Satan's return, all while Satan was turned into a glowing green fluid by his father (who was sent to the dark side) and buried underneath an old church. Overseen by a secret group of priests, this green liquid starts to formulate with the death of the latest guardian revealing to a Priest (Donald Pleasance) that Satan is ready to return. Teaming up with physician Professor Howard Birack (Victor Wong) and students, the group must now fight back against this being by deciphering what it is, what it is capable of, and then having to wing it to fight back in the end. In other words, this film is absolutely insane.

Yet, it is this insanity that makes Prince of Darkness so appealing. Playing fast and loose with logic and timelines, the only bits that are important are that this pile of green liquid is super powerful, takes over people to do its bidding, and then will slowly possess the body of one of the people to fulfill its goal of bringing its father back through a mirror portal. This all sounds like something Carpenter dreamt up, yet it all somehow works. The corny acting, the cheesy plot, and the B-movie aesthetics, are what gives the film its charm and makes it such a blast to watch. While hardly a concrete reason to love a film, as one can easily enjoy a bad film, Prince of Darkness is one those films that has such an immersive and well-thought out world that any absurdity, silly turns, or insanity is forgiven. It creates a world that is so easily dove into and enjoyed that the audience goes along with this insanity and wants to jump right back in when the film ends. It is a cinematic experience like few others, creating a world so enticing, unique, and thrilling, that it feels like cinematic cocaine. One hit of Prince of Darkness and you are hooked, begging for the film to just give you a little bit more or to simply never end.

While the concept of this film is absurd on the surface, it is Carpenter who breathes life into this odd script and weird collection of events and characters. Delivering a slow build-up with the one-by-one elimination of the physicists, the realization of what is happening, and the slow return of Satan just in time for the finale. Carpenter's perfect pacing allows the film to unravel at just the right pace to keep the viewer on edge and jumpy. With the surrealist dreams as a great added touch on top of this, the ominous hints about what is to come only further serve the film's tension and fantastic atmosphere that leaves you hooked to see what is coming next.

As with all Carpenter films, one of the film's greatest assets is undoubtedly its score. With a great synthy, ominous, and greatly creepy score, in its back pocket, Prince of Darkness sets the tone early and often with Carpenter often relying on the score alone to add tension to seemingly innocuous events. Yet, it is not the type of score that becomes overbearing or a film that becomes too reliant on its score to scare. The events depicted do that well enough. However, the score amplifies these scares and the tension, creating a terrific atmosphere that keeps on edge and makes the scares that much more effective. The audio as a whole does the same with little bumps, creaks, and other noises giving the film a great edge and bite to it that keeps audiences guessing as to what that sound was or simply creeped out as to what we just heard coming from the other room or the other side of a wall. Sound is often Carpenter's strongest asset and Prince of Darkness exemplifies why that is often the case in his films.… Expand

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4

FilipeNetoMay 20, 2018

This is yet another biblically-based horror film that tackles the end of the world. In this case, it focuses on a small abandoned church where a mysterious brotherhood kept a large hermetically sealed cylinder containing a viscous substance.This is yet another biblically-based horror film that tackles the end of the world. In this case, it focuses on a small abandoned church where a mysterious brotherhood kept a large hermetically sealed cylinder containing a viscous substance. The movie never tells us what that thing is, nor how it was stuck there, nor does it explain why it came out of the cocoon (one of the biggest problems in the script). But the truth is that it looks like a milkshake of wickedness, evil concentrated. And in it lies the secret to awaken the Prince of Darkness. The movie may seem strange and very unbelievable because of these elements, but the truth is that it works very well as a horror movie. John Carpenter is a master at creating suspense and scare the audience, and he achieves one more success in this film, probably one of the least known of his consecrated career. Donald Pleasence is the most obvious name of the cast, in the role of an unusual Catholic priest. The cast, on the whole, fairly complied with what was demanded of it. The special effects are good but the characterization and the wardrobe deserve special applause because they stand out, particularly as the film draws to an end.… Expand

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9

PhilipBlakeSep 13, 2019

Prince of Darkness is by far the most underrated John Carpenter film. Just looking at theses so called critics give me severe headaches. This is an one-of-a-kind movie with a perfect eerie atmosphere that really feet to the story. The cast isPrince of Darkness is by far the most underrated John Carpenter film. Just looking at theses so called critics give me severe headaches. This is an one-of-a-kind movie with a perfect eerie atmosphere that really feet to the story. The cast is really well chosen and the Carpenter / Howarth original score is one of their best to date. The set is really simple as it is creepy and the cinematography really helps a lot to feel the absence of the good inside these walls. I honestly can't find anything bad to say about the whole movie. The make up effects are probably the less effective point but are still believable and correct at this point. Definitely not your typical horror story and at millions miles ago from nowadays standard.… Expand

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10

OriginalDangerSep 26, 2021

Prince of Darkness is a John Carpenter film which came out in 1987, a few years after John Carpenter's directed classic "The Thing" which is an excellent horror starring Kurt Russell about an alien entity that imitates other lifeformsPrince of Darkness is a John Carpenter film which came out in 1987, a few years after John Carpenter's directed classic "The Thing" which is an excellent horror starring Kurt Russell about an alien entity that imitates other lifeforms including humans.... ... Prince of Darkness is completely different but has a kind of dark vibe that The Thing had, but totally different and can't remember what it was about, probably the devil or something and there's talk about religion and God and this weird green stuff that is released from some container or something and starts turning people into almost zombie state beings... No idea what Prince of Darkness is about fully but it's a very good film with great acting especially from Donald Pleasance, Victor Wong didn't appeal to me much but he could of been worse and the rest of the cast were fantastic and all very likeable apart from the creepy beings on the streets which gave it a sort of zombie feel to it.... Prince of Darkness is very dark, absorbing, very cleverly made by the master of horror named John Carpenter and cleverly put together unlike today's rubbish horror movies...... There's little blood and guts in Prince of Darkness but there is quite a bit and what it had worked very well indeed. Check out Prince of Darkness, one of the best horror films ever made.… Expand

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9

HellHoleHorrorFeb 16, 2022

It looks good. There is nothing to complain about. All of the effects look solid as they were done in-camera. I loved the flowing movement. The music is very eighties but that doesn't bother me! It has a good solid sound mix that I couldn'tIt looks good. There is nothing to complain about. All of the effects look solid as they were done in-camera. I loved the flowing movement. The music is very eighties but that doesn't bother me! It has a good solid sound mix that I couldn't complain about! This starts a little slow but it really takes off to be an intense and brutally scary movie. This truly is scary with some solid jumps and a petrifying theme! There are a lot of characters and that helps to keep the pace moving at top speed. It is reminiscent of Halloween (1978) but different and scarier due to the themes raised. The story is told really well and hints at many powers that are way above us morals. Stunning horror that doesn't fail to scare and exhilarate.… Expand

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5

eva3si0nDec 26, 2022

Prince of Darkness is disappointing. Yes, this is a John Carpenter film, the whole film feels its unique style. But Prince of Darkness doesn't compare at all with the director's other films, especially The Thing. Prince of Darkness has a veryPrince of Darkness is disappointing. Yes, this is a John Carpenter film, the whole film feels its unique style. But Prince of Darkness doesn't compare at all with the director's other films, especially The Thing. Prince of Darkness has a very mediocre plot in which there is almost no action or development. For the most half of the film, you are waiting for the start of the development of events of which simply not. Prince of Darkness has nothing to surprise the viewer. It doesn't scare like horror, it doesn't keep you on your toes like a thriller. Prince of Darkness just spends your time for 15 minutes of action in the film's finale. Prince of Darkness can only be recommended to John Carpenter fans and no one else.… Expand

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5

akshatmahajanJul 28, 2021

From last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read about this movie and watched it. The idea of the movie was little bit creepy but not new. For your info, this movie is now considered cult classic like Carpenter's otherFrom last few days, I have been watching John Carpenter's movie. I read about this movie and watched it. The idea of the movie was little bit creepy but not new. For your info, this movie is now considered cult classic like Carpenter's other movies.

For me, the movie was Carpenter's career one of the weakest. It had elements of darkness, horror and tense, but it failed to have it's impact. There are some good tense scenes but most of the time, it's too much normal movie.

If we talk about performances, none of them gave a worthy performance. Direction by John Carpenter was weak. It thought it would be just like his other movies such as Halloween and The Thing but no. I didn't find any problem with the pacing. The main problem was with too much simple story and it's too much simple execution.

Overall, the movie is a normal one. I can't think that this was made by director who have given so much dark, tense and suspenseful movies.… Expand

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8

HingleMcCringleNov 7, 2021

John Carpenter's second best movie behind The Thing, a little lacking in a portion near the end but otherwise a really good watch. Good plot, solid acting, great practical effects and makeup, and of course well done directing and music byJohn Carpenter's second best movie behind The Thing, a little lacking in a portion near the end but otherwise a really good watch. Good plot, solid acting, great practical effects and makeup, and of course well done directing and music by Carpenter. It was interesting hearing the scientific dialogue from over 30 years ago going on about quantum physics and combining that with the supernatural and horror elements really hooked me.… Expand

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9

Boggiebamph123Oct 9, 2022

Prince of Darkness always seems to fly under the radar in comparison to Carpenter's other work from the 80's. Personally I think it's his Second best film only behind The Thing. Sure the first half of the movie plods along. The Title SequencePrince of Darkness always seems to fly under the radar in comparison to Carpenter's other work from the 80's. Personally I think it's his Second best film only behind The Thing. Sure the first half of the movie plods along. The Title Sequence seems to go on for ten minutes. It's comical. I believe it boils down to Carpenter's superb writing. Also the atmosphere has Carpenter's style all over it. The second half of the film takes off like a bat out of hell. One of Carpenter's best.… Expand

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