''Prince of Darkness'' (1987)

By Crusader1307

 Perhaps one of American Genre Director John Carpenter's most underrated Horror Films, Universal Studios 1987 ''Prince of Darkness'' is a mind-twisting journey into both the Metaphysical World of Religious Beliefs well blended into a quasi Sci-Fi view of the same. Predating the previously discussed 1997 ''Event Horizon'' (which was another combining of both Genres), Prince of Darkness tells the story of The Devil....but from an entirely different point. In an unused Catholic Parish Church in Los Angeles, a Secret Order of Religious has kept the ''ultimate Evil'', safely secured in a glass and metal container. This ''Evil'' is none other than ''Old Scratch'' Himself. After a series of mysterious Celestial Events set into motion an Ancient Prophecy, The Head of The Ancient Order recruits a Group of Scientists to provide data (for possible World release), that The Devil IS a tangible Entity. Locked away for the weekend inside the Church, The Group of Scientists determine that the ''Cage'' used to trap ''Lucifer'' is actually many thousands of years in age – and quite possible an ''Alien Artifact'' after decoding a series of complex mathematical formulas, it is so determine that ''Evil'' (Lucifer), may be an Alien and responsible to an attempt to enslave The World. ''Captured'' and sealed away by The Church, We learn ''Satan's Prison'' is starting to degrade due to it's age.

The Devil's telekinetic abilities cause Him to start to control The Scientists one by one. The goal of The Devil is simple....become ''reborn into this Modern World'' and open a dimensional portal to bring forth ''His Son'' – to enslave The Earth. The few remaining survivors of Scientists begin to ''receive'' a series of dreams warning them of the impending disaster. These ''dreams'' are in reality – messages from Humanities Future, where a Group of Scientists ''then'' (after enslavement), attempt to warn ''The Past'', to stop Lucifer from ''taking over''. Smart and deep at times, ''Prince of Darkness'' has all the required John Carpenter ''scare points'' – combined with His normal excellent and quite creepy music (Carpenter writes and performs most of His Film's music). Often called a ''Jump Film'' (scene designed to cause one to react with physical fear responses), the Film still has a wide Cult Fan Base after so many years. Well worth a watch!