'70s Class/Trash: Prophecy (1979)

Is this an underrated gem or a silly mess?  It really depends on who you ask.  Granted- you have to find someone who remembers this Film in the first place!  Today's Film is Prophecy, a 1979 Eco-Horror Film when those were all the rage.  A culmination of things had to happen for this Film to take place though.  First- you needed Jaws to make Killer Animal Films a thing again.  Second- you needed a stronger focus on the environment in pop culture to drive the story.  Third- you needed a big time Director- John Frankenheimer- to be drunk enough to agree to make this Film.  I'm only half-joking about that last one.  He's gone on record about his problems at the time and I obviously don't *really* think that Alcoholism is funny.  Mind you, the results can be however.  The Film's Plot involves some story gymnastics to take place.  It involves a Doctor, a Logging Company, some indigenous people, some big animals and a mutated bear.  No, the monster is not a giant, ugly skittle like the Poster would have you believe.  The Film lives and dies by two things- its Plot and its Monster.  To see which one is ultimately-sillier, read on...

A Doctor- Robert Foxworth- works in the 'Ghetto' and cares about 'the little guy.'  He's basically Billy Jack if you didn't do Karate and try to make Indian Schools.

Maybe this is just me, but is hair really distracting to you?  It's like 3 different colors, lengths and consistencies.  Pick one!

Because he is 'good with people' (right after we see him bemoaning everyone), the Doc is sent in by a Logging Company to prove that things are safe.

The group runs afoul of the native population, led by John Hawks...who is played by Armand Assante.  Alas, Adam Beach was too young to play this role at the time.

The Film is really concerned with being about the environment and some sort of China Syndrome-vibe.

As such, a good portion of the middle of the Film is them looking at nature, being in nature and then touring the Logging Facility in what feels like real time.

Here's a splash of silly to keep you satiated though, Audience!

Things eventually escalate as our Heroes find a washed-out baby Bear that looks mutated.  They prove that the Mercury in the water is dangerous to the native people and the wildlife before...a bear fake-out.

Double-fake-out- the real bear shows up after all and smashes up the place.  Frankenheimer and company do get this good shot of Chief Grampa watching it go down though.

So the Third Act is built around one thing- Man vs. Bear!

On the plus side, Foxworth's hair/beard is less distracting when wet.

So I have to talk about the Bear.  I...love it and I hate it.

The premise is simple- he's a big-ass bear who was mutated by the mercury and looks monstrous.
He also looks silly as hell, as his burnt-up look resembles a chewed up starburst more than skin.

Things get really intense- and worth watching the rest of the Film- as the group tries to escape the Beast.  Will the lake be enough to keep it away?

Well, no.  A good stabbing or two does the trick...

…or does it.  Yes, they Sequel Bait with...another Bear?  It's not wounded, so...maybe...I guess.  The End.

The best and worst of the '70s in one big, long package.  Giggity.  Seriously though, the Film is kind of a beautiful mess.  On one hand, it wants to be a serious Film that challenges the Audience with its talk of environmentalism.  They have the evil Logging Company guy...but he also challenges the Audience a bit by talking about supply and demand.  'OMG- I do use Paper!  It's my fault that you...dumped Mercury in the Water for 20 Years.  Wait...no, it isn't.'  It also uses 'Indians' as essentially props here to give the Film an air of reality.  Hey, it worked for Day of the Animals, Orca and White Buffalo!  On the other hand, the Film clearly has to be a Monster Film.  It almost seems to fight it as long as possible.  We get the tease of some off-screen Monster- just like in Grizzly- and then the famous Sleeping Bag Kill from above.  Eventually, the Film seems to give up and just gives you the Bear knocking people around!  When that happens, the Film really delivers some good, old-fashioned fun.  The Bear visual, again, looks weird as hell.  I think they did a good job by showing it alot, but I will also concede that they almost show it too much.  It looks real enough for quick shots though.  Prophecy- not the one with Christopher Walken- is a self-serious Film that eventually just gives up and gets hilarious.  You may not like the slower, more serious first section, but I think it all pans out in the end.  Here's a fun contrast- and possible tease for a future Fiction vs. Fiction- for you: compare the Poster (above) and the original Book Cover...

Next time, I cover a Film that relates to the new Jumanji Film (now out on VOD).  It's a bit forgotten, so see if you remember it.  Stay tuned...