Have any of you ever seen Prophecy? John Frankenheimer’s creature feature (written by The Omen’s David Seltzer) is one of the most outlandish, ridiculous, monster movies I’ve ever seen. Basically, it’s about mutated animals along the Androscoggin River in Maine. There are giant salmon, man-eating raccoons, huge tadpoles, and even Katahdin, a deformed, monstrous bear infected with fungicide. It’s outrageous in the best possible way, and a given for me on account of my sheer love of the 1970s and 1980s brand of eco-horror. Interestingly enough, even Quentin Tarantino is a fan. The best news yet? Prophecy is streaming free on Paramount+.
Check out a trailer and synopsis below:
Per Paramount+: Robert Foxworth and Talia Shire star as a doctor and his wife, who travel to Maine to research the impact of the lumber industry on the environment. They begin to investigate mysterious events: freaks of nature and bizarre and human deaths.
I have always had a soft spot for eco-horror, especially when branded with animals run amok. I love a Cocaine Bear as much as the next guy, but it just doesn’t hit the same without the conspicuous folly of man. Whether it’s logging, pesticides, over-fishing, or chemical waste, horror is uniquely poised to exaggerate (though not always) the horrific impact we’re having on our natural world and the consequences we might face because of it.
I was thrilled, then, to see that Quentin Tarantino, as part of his New Beverly review series, is as much a fan of Prophecy as I am. While his review is peppered with that trademark Tarantino hedging—it’s trash, but fun trash—there’s clear admiration for the monstrous ursid horror.
Check out a snippet of Quentin Tarantino’s review below:
“John Frankenheimer’s Prophecy is pretty much a piece of shit from the word go, but the more it goes, the more enjoyable this piece of shit gets, till it can officially be classified under that beloved category, enjoyable piece of shit.”
You can check out Quentin Tarantino’s full, archived thoughts here. Prophecy screened at Tarantino’s New Beverly in early 2020 as part of a trilogy of eco-terror that featured Orca and Nightwing for one of the greatest curated screenings I’ve ever encountered. Prophecy may not scare you all that much, but it is absolutely worth seeking out on Paramount+. I promise you’ll have a great time.
What do you think? Do you agree with Quentin Tarantino (or me)? Are you a fan of Prophecy? Be sure to check it out on Paramount+ and let me know what you think over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
