The Prophecy II **** (1998, Christopher Walken, Russell Wong, Jennifer Beals, Brittany Murphy, Eric Roberts) – Classic Movie Review 836

Christopher Walken reprises his role as the extremely bad and dangerous, and now angry, fallen Archangel Gabriel in director Greg Spence’s eerie, exuberant and often very compelling supernatural 1998 horror-fantasy thriller sequel to the 1995 hit.

The anti-hero Gabriel returns to Earth to prevent the birth of a child conceived by fellow ethereal messenger Angel Danyael or Daniel (Russell Wong) and a human woman called Valerie Rosales (Jennifer Beals).

Gabriel is locked in a battle with Daniel after he kills members of Gabriel’s army of angels. Then Gabriel saves the life of teenage girl Izzy (Brittany Murphy) who has just committed suicide in order to use her in his sinister plot to destroy the Earth.

Again, there are many good ideas to be found in a fascinating and bizarre movie, with compelling bursts of action and effective low-budget special effects.

It’s a good vehicle for Walken, who gives another engagingly outrageous performance, superbly menacing as well as darkly funny. Eric Roberts co-stars as Michael, with Steve Hytner back as Joseph, and Guri Weinberg takes over from Viggo Mortensen as Lucifer.

The final part of the trilogy, The Prophecy III: The Ascent, followed in 2000.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 836

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