PROPHECY

Here, as with War of the Colossal Beast we have an America made daikaiju (giant monster) movie. Unlike War, this one was made during the 70's and is a significant improvement over its brethren of the 50's.

Though I might be saying that for no other reason then nostalgia. You see, dear reader, I actually saw Prophecy in the theater (not a drive-in but an actual theater. With real buttered popcorn too!). So my perspective might be a bit colored. This is another one of those movies that can be liked or dislike according to one's personal taste.

Staring Robert Foxworth as Dr. Robert Vern, and EPA man who is summoned to Maine (pregnant wife in tow) to investigate claims for a local tribe that a paper mill is polluting Indian land. They also claim that they're guardian spirit, Katahadin ( pronounced "ka TAD en") will come and destroy they're enemies. In this case, they mean the paper mill. The fact that there have been several unexplained murders in the area seams to back this theory up. Ether that, or some hockey mask wearing psycho managed to hitch a ride on a local ship.

Things are really tense up they're, as shown by the ax and chainsaw fight early in the movie. Things get even more get even more tense as Vern finds out just what is going on up in the Steven King state. The paper mill has been using a special type of mercury (the type that mutates animals on the genetic level. That's some mercury) on its logs for years. He finds proof of this when he finds a mutated bear cub. Just like Gorgo. before it and The Lost World behind it, once the characters capture a baby monster the moma monster isn't far behind. In this case we have a giant mutant bear.

And what a mutant bear it is. From what we can see of it through the poor lighting. I suppose that lighting was used to disguise the fact that the bear is, in reality, nothing more then a guy it a big, rubber suit. The same guy (Kevin Peter Hall) who would, years from then, don the rubber suit in the genre alien action flick Predator. But here the poor lighting actual works because it helps establish a really creepy sort of mood. And it disguises the fact that the monster is, in reality, just a guy in a big rubber suit.

Let me just pause to mention that, with the incalculable amount of giant monsters who owe they're origins to atomic radiation its nice to see someone being original for once. I mean, man has tampered with nature in so many ways, why should just one way cause giant monsters?

On the acting front its nice to see some people actually acting in they're roles. None of the people here will win Oscars but who cares? Its the monster stupid. But our lead actors do turn in some good performances. Particular marks to to Foxworth and Talia (The Shining) Shire as his pregnant wife. Although she really does need to work on her scream in this movie.

While it is fairly original as monster movies go this is one of those movies that doesn't end as much as it stops. There is the resolution of the side plot ("giant bear chases humans around") but no resolution of the main plot. A note to scriptwriter David Seltzer:You might want to try that next time.

RATING(OUT OF A POSSIBLE FIVE)

NOT BAD, BUT THIS MOVIE ISN'T SMARTER THEN THE AVERAGE BEAR.

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